Real-Time Access Control System Using Radio Frequency Identification with Android Application

Abstract

Access control bothers on ensuring that only authorized persons are granted access into a facility. Close circuit television (CCTV) system and the artificial intelligence based facial recognition technology, which are widely employed in access control systems are expensive and complex to operate and maintain.  This study developed a smart, less expensive and easy to maintain door access enable system based on the radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The design also incorporates an android application (App) which monitors and controls the door status remotely. RFID reader, relay and other electronics components were interfaced with NodeMCU microcontroller. The android application was developed to communicate with the hardware through the wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network. When tested, the system identified registered RFID tag and decline the unregistered one, opened the door and sent information to the app immediately. Alternative control was also provided through the mobile app for an authorized person who does not have a tag. At every point of testing, information transmission and reception was less than 4 seconds. The overall performance evaluation of the developed non-contact door access control system for this study performs favourably well with a response time less than 2.5 sec. which is within the standard real-time of 10 sec.