Development of a Smart Lock System using QR Code Technology

A smart lock system refers to a modern security solution that enables users to remotely control access to their homes or businesses using a smart device such as smartphone, tablet, or computer. This paper presents the development of a smart lock system using Quick Response (QR) code technology to address the problem of insecurity, inconvenience, and inflexibility in access control. The proposed system eliminates the need for physical keys or complex authentication and verification methods. The system integrates an ESP8266 microcontroller, barcode scanner, 16x2 liquid-crystal display (LCD), solenoid lock, relay, and a 12V power supply. The system allows authorised users to generate unique QR codes representing their access credentials through a user-friendly interface. These QR codes are scanned by the system, which processes the codes, verifies access permissions via a central server and provides real-time feedback through the LCD. Upon successful verification, the system triggers a relay to control the solenoid lock, to grant or deny access. The implementation and testing of the smart lock system demonstrated successful operation. The performance indices include authentication speed, system reliability, accuracy and response time, which were evaluated and found to be satisfactory. The obtained results showed that the proposed system outperformed traditional methods such as keys, and fingerprint authentication, with an access speed of 2.00 seconds, which is significantly faster than the alternatives. Comparative analysis with existing access control techniques demonstrated the developed system's enhanced security features and user-friendly operation, making it applicable for residential, commercial, and industrial use. Additionally, the system's scalability and adaptability allow it to be customised for various environments, offering a versatile solution to diverse security challenges. This work contributes to the field of security technology by providing an efficient and scalable smart lock system with novel algorithms, which enhances the convenience, robustness of access control and seamless user experience.