NFC-based physical access-control
Usually the access-control systems trust that the card Unique ID is unique, but this is actually quite trivially spoofable. A proper solution adds an encrypted application on the card with a separate identifier (and possible some access-control information if we do not want to always check with a server which ACLs given card has). The aim is to build a simple-to-deploy secure (as long as the servers you get your ACL data from are) system.
This can be built from COTS components, that adds size and cost: optimally we would design a board that has the NFC-reader chip (and U.FL connector for an antenna board, plus the PCB-antenna board), accepts something like the Raspberry Pi compute module (or similar) via SO-DIMM connector and has proper 802.3af (or at) PoE for powering it all. Outputs for relays and leds (needs also several adjustable switching regulators for various voltages: the electronic locks usually need 12V, the SOC/MCU usually runs at 3.3V, many other things need 5V…)
Knowledge needed to team: Industrial designer, experienced PCB designer, C coders, security expert
Return to idea list