Cryptech Proposal

Cryptech:

Reimagining the Household Safe

         For my midterm project, I will build a safe, but not just any ordinary safe. Why should a safe’s “user interface” be limited to a simple dial? For my project, I plan to reimagine the conventional lockbox, creating a new, dynamic and interactive way to open a safe. My safe – Cryptech – will use various sensors, variable resisters, knobs, buttons, (and anything else I can find) to make opening the safe a fun yet secure activity.

         The target audience for this project is anyone who is bored with the monotony of daily life. Rarely do we see examples of innovation in home appliances; toasters, mousetraps, toilets and safes have all remained virtually unchanged over the last few decades. Cryptech rebels against this stagnant lack of innovation, envisioning the safe as a fun-to-use product.

         Cryptech will work in the following way. First Cryptech will read the output from the various sensors. If these sensors all are turned to the correct level (as will be determined by the customizable code), then a green led will light up and a servomotor will rotate and unlock the latch for the safe. Then the safe will be accessible. If the sensors are not taking in the proper information, a red led will light up, signaling a failed attempt to access the safe. There will be a separate button for locking the safe once it is closed again.

List of Parts:

1.    Large wooden or metal box with hinge

2.    Some sort of locking mechanism that can be controlled by servomotor.

3.    Arduino microcontroller

4.    Breadboard and Wires and Resistors

5.    Servomotor

6.    Various sensors, including some of the following: Hall Effect Sensor, Capacitive Touch Sensor, Potentiometer, Photoresistor

7.    Various Switches and Buttons

8.    Various LEDs

9.    External power supply(?)

10.Other Sensors may be used…

Possible Issues: I think the hardest part for me will be creating the actual hardware: the safe itself.