We were inspired to create this smart bike lock by the many bikes and scooters used by college students at NJIT and Newark. We believe that the future for smart cities is micro-mobility devices like bikes and scooters that can be very energy efficient and take up very little space.
Our smart lock is a contactless solution that aims to improve the experience of bike and scooter users. Instead of needing to carry locks around everywhere, the lock would be built directly into the rack. The system can work with any RFID card, and we also developed a web server that can remotely operate the device. When one person scans to lock their device, only their card will be able to unlock it. This is a very easy and intuitive experience for the user, working just like any regular contactless door or payment system.
Mechanically, the system works via a worm gear ring that runs along V groove guides. The ring has a cutout that allows a bike wheel or scooter post to fit in place, and then when it rotates it closes off the opening.
In software, we use an RFID scanner and store the ID of whatever card is used to lock it, and then check for that card when unlocking. We also incorporated a buzzer to add feedback so users know that their card is scanning. Finally, we developed a basic website to show how this could be implemented on a larger scale with GPS locations and remote operations.
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