The authenticated clothing dropbox was built to prevent unauthorized access to personal items in shared environments. It combines RFID access control with computer vision so that a single compromised factor does not grant access.
Authenticated Clothing Dropbox
Secure clothing dropbox that uses RFID and computer vision to authenticate the user before dispensing garments.
Key Reminders
- Explain the RFID + vision authentication flow and why two factors were needed.
- Highlight the custom slot/magnet mechanism that releases one garment at a time.
- Discuss safety, privacy, and failure modes for a public-facing device.
Problem and Approach
Designed a secure clothing storage system that dispenses garments only to the authenticated user. The solution combines RFID verification with computer vision to reduce false positives while keeping the user experience fast and intuitive.
System Architecture
The device integrates RFID, a camera, and a microcontroller that coordinates the authorization workflow. A dispense routine drives a motor and solenoid to unlock the garment while logging events for auditability.
python code
Code example forthcoming
Vision + RFID authentication pipeline.
Mechanical and Electrical Design
A custom slot and magnet mechanism isolates a single garment and prevents accidental multiple releases. The electronics coordinate the RFID reader, camera trigger, and actuation sequence.
Testing and Validation
Verified the authorization flow, dispensing reliability, and error recovery behavior across repeated runs.
Demo and Next Steps
Future work includes enclosure refinement, deployment monitoring, and user studies for public environments.