Arduino RFID Parking Access Control System

➡️ Watch the full project demo here

An open-source, Arduino-based access control system designed for parking barriers using RFID technology. This project provides a solid foundation for a secure and automated vehicle entry system. It features an admin-card function for easy management of authorized users and utilizes an ultrasonic sensor to detect vehicle passage.

This project was originally developed by Emre Güler in 2018 as a university project. Now, it's open to the community for improvements and new features!

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✨ Features

• RFID-Based Access: Secure access using 13.56 MHz RFID cards.
• Admin Card Functionality:
  • Easily register new user cards.
  • Wipe all registered cards from memory by scanning the admin card twice.
• Persistent Memory: Registered card UIDs are stored in the Arduino's EEPROM, so they are not lost when power is disconnected.
• Automated Barrier Control: The servo motor automatically opens the barrier for authorized cards.
• Vehicle Detection: An HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor detects when a vehicle has passed, ensuring the barrier closes safely.
• LCD Display: A 16x2 LCD screen provides real-time feedback to the user (e.g., "WELCOME!", "UNAUTHORIZED CARD!").
• Night Mode: An LDR sensor deactivates the system in the dark to save power.

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🛠️ Hardware Components

Component	Quantity	Purpose
Arduino Nano V3	1	The brain of the project (ATmega328P).
MFRC522 RFID/NFC Reader	1	Reads the 13.56 MHz RFID cards.
16x2 I2C LCD Display	1	User feedback screen.
TowerPro SG90 Servo Motor	1	Operates the parking barrier.
HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor	1	Detects vehicle presence and passage.
LDR (Photoresistor)	1	Senses ambient light for night mode.
Breadboard & Jumper Wires	-	For circuit assembly.

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🔌 Schematics & Circuit

The complete circuit diagram is available in the schematics folder. You can open the rfid_system.pdsprj file with Proteus Design Suite to view and simulate the circuit.

For a quick look, here is the basic wiring diagram:

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🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

1. Arduino IDE: Make sure you have the Arduino IDE installed.
2. Libraries: Install the following libraries through the Arduino IDE's Library Manager:
   • LiquidCrystal_I2C by Frank de Brabander
   • MFRC522 by GithubCommunity

Installation & Usage

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone [https://github.com/emregulerr/arduino-rfid-parking-access-control.git](https://github.com/emregulerr/arduino-rfid-parking-access-control.git)

2. Upload the Sketch: Open the rfid_parking_sketch/rfid_parking_sketch_EN.ino file in the Arduino IDE and upload it to your Arduino Nano.
3. Admin Card Setup: The first card you need is the Admin Card. Its UID is hard-coded in the sketch. You need to change the UID in the code to match your desired admin card before uploading.
4. Registering User Cards:
   • Scan the Admin Card. The LCD will display "CARD REG. MODE".
   • Scan a new card you want to authorize. The LCD will confirm with "Card registered."
   • To wipe all registered cards, scan the Admin Card twice in a row.

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🤝 How to Contribute

Contributions are what make the open-source community such an amazing place to learn, inspire, and create. Any contributions you make are greatly appreciated. We welcome improvements of any scale!

Areas for Improvement

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• 3D Printed Case: Design a 3D printable enclosure for the components.
• Enhanced Security: Implement a mechanism to prevent RFID card cloning.
• Logging: Add functionality to log entry/exit times to an SD card.
• Web Interface: Create a web interface for managing users and viewing logs (e.g., using an ESP8266/ESP32 instead of a Nano).
• Code Refactoring: Improve the code structure, add more comments, or optimize for performance.
• Documentation: Enhance the documentation, add more detailed explanations, or translate it into other languages.

Contribution Steps

1. Fork the Project: Click the 'Fork' button at the top right of this page.
2. Create your Feature Branch:

   git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature

3. Commit your Changes:

   git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature'

4. Push to the Branch:

   git push origin feature/AmazingFeature

5. Open a Pull Request: Go back to the original repository and open a new pull request.

Please make sure your code is well-commented and follows the project's existing style.

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📄 License

This project is distributed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file for more information.

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👥 Project Author

• Emre Güler - GitHub

We hope you find this project useful and fun!