Reseach Aim
The aim of this project is to research and design a keyless storage system utilizing raspberry pi to solve the security problem of parcel counter; in a supermarket, in order to eliminate the incident of theft and parcel mishandling. This project will make use of Raspberry pi, 8051 microcontroller, storage unit boxes, display screen, input keypad, weight sensor, magnetic lock, display LEDs. The raspberry pi will handle the SEI database and the generation of storage unit password(s); it is also responsible for interfacing the function of locking and unlocking the storage unit via the 8051 microcontrollers.
The raspberry pi uses the SEI captured information from the interface and sends the instruction to the 8051 microcontroller’s IO ports, (Port 2) which is connected to the magnetic lock(s) on storage units is triggered; to lock or unlock the storage unit. Also, the signal is sent from Raspberry Pi to the LEDs to indicate that the door is unlocked. The weight sensor will send the signal back to the Raspberry Pi to indicate if the storage unit is available or on duty. The aim is to reduce the level of missing, and the mishandling of parcels, at the parcel counter kiosk of supermarkets around South Africa, and to being about confidence to shoppers, “that when they are shopping inside the market, their parcels are in a secure space”.