Develop and fabricate a device tailored to ascertain the codes of combination locks, particularly those that may have been forgotten. The benchmark set for this project was to unlock the combination within a 10-minute window.
Methodology:
The underlying vulnerability in 3-code combination locks was harnessed. By keenly observing for auditory 'clicks' or notable points of resistance, one could significantly truncate the prospective combination pool from a staggering 64,000 down to a mere 100.
The design was perpetually enhanced through cycles of prototyping and rigorous testing phases.
An assortment of Arduino scripts was formulated to scrutinize components like stepper motors, rotary encoders, optical encoders, servos, current sensors, and sound sensors.
Prototyping Evolution:
Prototype 1
Our preliminary prototype, molded using foam core, glue, and wires, rendered a tangible representation of our envisioned product.
It showcased the placement of the lock, the potential use of a stepper motor to manipulate the dial,
the utility of a servo in extricating the lock's shackle, the power mechanism,
and the embedded Arduino governing the operations.
Prototype 2
The successive prototype incorporated foam, coupled with a 28BYJ-48 stepper motor and a rotary encoder.
The demonstration elucidates the encoder's role in calibrating the lock's initial position to zero.
This prototype also ventured into the possibility of detecting the lock's resistance points or 'clicks' through a sound sensor.
However, the iterative design process revealed the impracticality of this method.
Prototype 3
This footage underscores the device's proficiency in rapidly solving combinations.
The integration of a NEMA17 stepper motor with an optical encoder facilitated the precise measurement of the motor's positioning,
paving the way for the implementation of sophisticated feedback control.
Outcome:
The culmination of our rigorous design process resulted in a prototype proficient in cracking a combination lock code within the targeted 10-minute timeframe.
