ESP32 Face Recognition Door Lock: Secure Your Home!

Hey guys! Ever thought about how cool it would be to unlock your door just by looking at it? Well, with the ESP32 and some face recognition magic, you can totally make that happen! This project is all about creating a smart door lock that uses facial recognition to grant access. It's a fun and practical way to dive into the world of IoT (Internet of Things) and home automation. So, let's get started and build our very own high-tech security system!

What You'll Need

Before we jump into the build, let's gather all the necessary components. Here’s a list of what you’ll need to get this project up and running:

ESP32-CAM Module: This is the brains of our operation. The ESP32-CAM comes equipped with a camera and Wi-Fi capabilities, perfect for capturing images and processing them. Make sure you get one with enough memory for storing and running the face recognition algorithms.
Servo Motor: The servo motor will act as the locking mechanism. When a recognized face is detected, the ESP32 will trigger the servo to unlock the door.
Servo Motor Driver Board (Optional): If your servo motor requires more power than the ESP32 can provide, a driver board will come in handy. It ensures the servo gets enough juice to operate smoothly.
Power Supply: You’ll need a reliable power supply to keep the ESP32 and servo motor running. A 5V power supply should do the trick.
Jumper Wires: These are essential for connecting all the components together. Make sure you have a variety of male-to-male and male-to-female wires.
Breadboard (Optional): A breadboard can make prototyping easier by providing a convenient way to connect components without soldering.
Micro USB Cable: For programming and powering the ESP32.
Door Lock Mechanism: A basic door lock setup where you can integrate the servo motor.
3D Printed Parts (Optional): For housing the components and creating a clean, professional look.

Setting Up the ESP32-CAM

Alright, let's get our hands dirty and set up the ESP32-CAM. This involves a few steps, from installing the necessary libraries to uploading the code.

Installing the ESP32 Board in Arduino IDE

First, you'll need to add the ESP32 board to your Arduino IDE. Here’s how:

Open Arduino IDE and go to File > Preferences.
In the “Additional Boards Manager URLs” field, add the following URL: https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json
Click “OK”.
Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager.
Search for “ESP32” and install the “ESP32 by Espressif Systems” board.

This will allow you to program the ESP32 using the Arduino IDE, which is super convenient.

Installing Required Libraries

Next, we need to install the libraries that will handle the camera, face recognition, and servo motor control. Here’s a list of the libraries you’ll need:

ESP32Servo: For controlling the servo motor.
ESP32-CAM Library: For handling the camera functions.
Face Recognition Library: A library that provides the algorithms for detecting and recognizing faces. You might need to search for a suitable library online, as there isn't a single standard one.

You can install these libraries through the Arduino IDE’s Library Manager:

Go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries.
Search for each library by name and click “Install”.

Wiring the Components

Now, let's connect all the components. Here’s a basic wiring diagram:

ESP32-CAM to Servo Motor: Connect a digital pin on the ESP32 (e.g., D2) to the signal pin of the servo motor. Also, connect the servo motor's power and ground pins to the 5V power supply.
ESP32-CAM to Power Supply: Connect the ESP32’s VIN and GND pins to the 5V power supply. Make sure the power supply can provide enough current for the ESP32 and the camera module.

If you’re using a servo motor driver board, connect the ESP32’s digital pin to the driver board’s signal input, and then connect the servo motor to the driver board. This setup is crucial for reliable operation.

Code Time! The ESP32 Sketch

Now for the fun part – writing the code! Here’s a simplified version of the Arduino sketch. Remember, you’ll need to adapt it based on the specific libraries and hardware you’re using.

#include <ESP32Servo.h>
#include <esp_camera.h>
// Include other necessary libraries here

// Define servo pin
#define SERVO_PIN 2

Servo myservo;

// Camera configuration
#define PWDN_GPIO_NUM     32
#define RESET_GPIO_NUM    -1
#define XCLK_GPIO_NUM      0
#define SIOD_GPIO_NUM     26
#define SIOC_GPIO_NUM     27

#define Y9_GPIO_NUM       35
#define Y8_GPIO_NUM       34
#define Y7_GPIO_NUM       39
#define Y6_GPIO_NUM       36
#define Y5_GPIO_NUM       21
#define Y4_GPIO_NUM       19
#define Y3_GPIO_NUM       18
#define Y2_GPIO_NUM        5
#define VSYNC_GPIO_NUM     25
#define HREF_GPIO_NUM      23
#define PCLK_GPIO_NUM      22

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  myservo.attach(SERVO_PIN);

  // Camera setup
  camera_config_t config;
  config.ledc_channel = LEDC_CHANNEL_0;
  config.ledc_timer = LEDC_TIMER_0;
  config.pin_d0 = Y9_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d1 = Y8_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d2 = Y7_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d3 = Y6_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d4 = Y5_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d5 = Y4_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d6 = Y3_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d7 = Y2_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_xclk = XCLK_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_pclk = PCLK_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_vsync = VSYNC_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_href = HREF_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_sscb_sda = SIOD_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_sscb_scl = SIOC_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_pwdn = PWDN_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_reset = RESET_GPIO_NUM;
  config.xclk_freq_hz = 20000000;
  config.pixel_format = PIXFORMAT_JPEG; 

  //init with high specs to pre-allocate larger buffers
  if(psramFound()){
    config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_UXGA; // for larger pre-allocated frame size
    config.jpeg_line_int = 1024;
    config.fb_count = 2;
  } else {
    config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_SVGA;
    config.jpeg_line_int = 64;
    config.fb_count = 1;
  }

  // Camera init
  esp_err_t err = esp_camera_init(&config);
  if (err != ESP_OK) {
    Serial.printf("Camera init failed with error 0x%x", err);
    return;
  }

  // Face recognition setup (add your face recognition initialization here)
}

void loop() {
  // Capture image
  camera_fb_t *fb = esp_camera_fb_get();
  if (!fb) {
    Serial.println("Camera capture failed");
    return;
  }

  // Face recognition processing (add your face recognition code here)
  bool faceRecognized = recognizeFace(fb->buf, fb->len);

  if (faceRecognized) {
    Serial.println("Face recognized! Unlocking door.");
    unlockDoor();
  } else {
    Serial.println("Face not recognized.");
    lockDoor();
  }

  // Return the frame buffer back to be reused
  esp_camera_fb_return(fb);

  delay(5000); // Check every 5 seconds
}

// Function to recognize face (replace with your actual face recognition code)
bool recognizeFace(uint8_t *imageBuffer, size_t length) {
  // Implement your face recognition algorithm here
  // This is a placeholder, you'll need to integrate a face recognition library
  // For example, you might use a library like Face++ or implement your own Haar Cascade classifier
  // Return true if a recognized face is detected, false otherwise
  return false; // Placeholder: Always returns false
}

void unlockDoor() {
  myservo.write(90); // Rotate servo to unlock position
  delay(1000);      // Keep unlocked for 1 second
}

void lockDoor() {
  myservo.write(0);  // Rotate servo to lock position
  delay(1000);
}

Code Breakdown

Let's break down the code to understand what's happening:

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Includes: We start by including the necessary libraries for the servo motor, camera, and face recognition.
Servo Pin Definition: This defines the pin connected to the servo motor.
Camera Configuration: This section sets up the camera with the appropriate configurations, such as pin assignments, resolution, and pixel format.
Setup Function: In the setup() function, we initialize the serial communication, attach the servo to the defined pin, and initialize the camera. We also need to include the face recognition initialization here.
Loop Function: In the loop() function, we capture an image from the camera, process it to recognize a face, and then either unlock or lock the door based on the recognition result. The recognizeFace() function is a placeholder where you’ll need to integrate your actual face recognition algorithm.
Unlock and Lock Functions: These functions control the servo motor to lock and unlock the door. The myservo.write() function sets the angle of the servo motor.

Implementing Face Recognition

This is the trickiest part. You’ll need to find a suitable face recognition library or API to integrate into your code. Here are a few options:

Face++ API: A cloud-based face recognition service that provides a simple API for detecting and recognizing faces.
OpenCV: A powerful open-source computer vision library that includes face detection and recognition algorithms. This can be more complex to set up but offers more flexibility.
Haar Cascade Classifier: A machine learning-based approach for detecting faces. It’s less accurate than deep learning methods but can be faster and easier to implement.

You’ll need to adapt the recognizeFace() function to use your chosen library or API. This typically involves:

Converting the image data captured by the ESP32-CAM into a format suitable for the face recognition library.
Calling the face recognition function from the library.
Comparing the detected faces with known faces to determine if a match is found.

Integrating the Door Lock Mechanism

Now, let's integrate the servo motor with the door lock mechanism. This will involve some mechanical work to ensure the servo can properly control the lock.

Designing the Mechanism

You’ll need to design a mechanism that allows the servo motor to toggle the lock. This could involve:

Direct Linkage: Connecting the servo arm directly to the lock mechanism.
Lever System: Using a lever to amplify the servo’s movement and provide more torque.
Rotary to Linear Conversion: Converting the servo’s rotary motion into linear motion to push or pull the lock bolt.

3D Printing (Optional)

If you have access to a 3D printer, you can design and print custom parts to create a clean and robust mechanism. This can also help with housing the ESP32-CAM and other components.

Mounting the Components

Mount the ESP32-CAM, servo motor, and any other components securely to the door. Ensure the camera has a clear view of the area in front of the door. You might want to add some protection to the components to prevent tampering.

Powering Up and Testing

Once everything is wired and mounted, it’s time to power up the system and test it out!

Connect the power supply to the ESP32-CAM and servo motor.
Upload the code to the ESP32.
Stand in front of the camera and see if it recognizes your face.
If the face is recognized, the servo motor should unlock the door.

If it doesn’t work as expected, check the following:

Wiring: Make sure all the connections are correct and secure.
Code: Double-check the code for any errors or misconfigurations.
Power: Ensure the power supply is providing enough current.
Camera Angle: Adjust the camera angle to ensure it has a clear view of the face.

Enhancements and Security Considerations

To make your face recognition door lock even better, consider these enhancements and security measures:

Multiple Face Recognition: Add support for recognizing multiple faces, so family members and trusted friends can also unlock the door.
Remote Access: Implement a web interface or mobile app to control the door lock remotely.
Security Measures: Add encryption and authentication to prevent unauthorized access to the system.
Backup Key: Always have a backup key in case the system fails.

Conclusion

And there you have it! A DIY ESP32 face recognition door lock that adds a touch of futuristic security to your home. This project is not only a cool tech experiment but also a practical application of IoT. So, grab your ESP32, fire up the Arduino IDE, and get building! You’ll be amazed at what you can create with a little bit of code and some elbow grease. Happy making, and stay secure!