In the dark ages, you had to use a key to lock and unlock your car doors. Just about every car now has a remote control on the key that lets you unlock or lock with the push of a button. But many modern cars don’t even need that. They sense the key on your person and usually use a button to do the lock or unlock function. That button does nothing if the key isn’t nearby.
[Pierre Charlier] wanted that easy locking and unlocking, so he refitted his car with a Keyduino to allow entry with an NFC ring. What results is a very cool fistbump which convinces your car to unlock the door.
Keyduinio is [Pierre’s] NFC-enabled project, but you can also use a more conventional Arduino with an NFC and relay shield. The demo also works with a smartphone if you’re not one for wearing an NFC ring. Going this round, he even shows how to make it work with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
In the video below, you can see how he removed the car’s internal lock switch and modified the wire harness to take the connection to the Arduino. He’s also included all the code. About the only tricky part is doing the actual wiring in your car and finding a suitable source of power. That varies from car to car, so it isn’t easy to give specific instructions.
Opening doors of one kind or another is a popular project theme. While [Pierre’s] project might open the door on a coupe, we’ve seen another project that works on a coop.
this needs to be in the handle.
I currently work on a 3D printed handle, with BLE and a push button :)
I think it would be better to put the antenna and the electronics further apart. There are lots of little NFC boards that aren’t shields and that way you could put the Arduino out of sight and wrap the reader in something more discrete for the window.
Something similar is on my list of future projects to make use of my NFC implant. Ideal for when you’re kitesurfing and don’t want to take a key in the water with you.
Funny, I have the EXACT same use case :D
I got my implant after I lost my keys surfing..
Now make it interface with the CAN network to send lock and unlock commands, not using a relay ;)
THIS. Then it wouldn’t require hacking up your cars wiring, You could hook it to the OBD port and have power and universal application for just about any modern car, though commands may differ between cars.
Cool
What about a closed loop system. It does not look like there is any feedback from the unit to the phone as to the status of the lock.
I want to see this version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyxH2DXPogQ
Wouldn’t it be easier to hook up the Arduino to the buttons on a spare keyfob? (assuming this car had one)
This is probably cheaper. A key fob is, depending on your car, actually rather expensive after you include the cost of having the dealer pair it with your car. I realize you said “spare,” but you still have to calculate the value of it.
How to steal something from car : Grab man, make him fistbump, open door, steal :3
This also works with keys,but you car key is usually attached to your house key and your satnav knows where you live.