Sometimes, we can be very careless with small items like house keys. They can fall somewhere or even be left behind. This can be a nightmare for us after we travel from the office to home during rush hour. Our hopes of being able to quickly get into our house so we can rest or do other things are dashed by losing our house keys. I’m sure that’s something we don’t want to happen to us someday. But now, we can avoid that nightmare because there are smart door locks.
We no longer need to worry about leaving or losing keys somewhere because this innovation replaces conventional key systems with digital technology that is more secure, flexible, and easy to control. In the previous article, we discussed the Smart Home System, one of which is Smart Door Lock. In this article, we will discuss this technology in more detail.
What is a Smart Door Lock?
A smart door lock is a door lock connected to a digital system or wireless network (such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee) and can be operated via smart devices like smartphones, tablets, or virtual assistants (like Alexa and Google Assistant). With a smart lock, homeowners no longer need a physical key to lock or unlock the door. Instead, they can use a PIN code, RFID card, fingerprint, or even open the door remotely using an app.
How It Works and General Features
Smart door locks typically consist of several main components: a locking mechanism, an input panel (such as a keypad or fingerprint sensor), and wireless connectivity. Here are some common features of smart locks:
1. Physical Keyless Access
You can unlock the door by entering a PIN, tapping an RFID card, using biometrics (fingerprint or facial recognition), or using a smartphone app.
2. Remote Control
With an internet connection, you can unlock or lock the door from anywhere. This is especially useful if guests arrive when the owner is not home.
3. Access History
Some models keep an activity log, so you can see who opened the door and when.
4. Automatic Locking
After a short period of time, the door will lock automatically. This feature reduces the risk of forgetting to lock the door.
5. Live Notifications
If there is an attempted break-in or the door is opened by an unknown person, you will receive a notification directly to your phone.
6. Integration with Smart Home
Smart door locks can be connected to other smart home systems, such as CCTV cameras, alarms, automatic lights, or virtual assistants.
Advantages of Smart Door Locks
1. Higher Security
A dual authentication system (e.g., fingerprint + PIN) makes access to your home more secure than a regular key that can be duplicated.
2. Convenience
No longer needing to carry a physical key. This is especially helpful for those of us who frequently forget or lose house keys.
Disadvantages and Risks
However, despite their many advantages, smart door locks also have several disadvantages and challenges:
1. Dependence on Electricity and the Internet
Some models will not work during power outages or network disruptions. Even with a backup battery, owners must still ensure a constant power supply.
2. Risk of Hacking
As digital devices, smart locks are vulnerable to hacking. Therefore, it is important to choose a product with a strong and regularly updated security system.
3. Higher Price
The initial cost of installing a smart lock is quite high compared to conventional locks. However, over time, the price of these products has become more affordable with the wide variety of options available on the market.
4. Installation and Compatibility
Not all doors are compatible with smart lock systems. Sometimes, adjustments or professional assistance are required during the installation process.
Regulatory Compliance
We have discussed the benefits, advantages, and disadvantages of smart door locks. Now we will explain the regulatory compliance requirements for these products. As mentioned above, this product utilizes radio frequency networks such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee. So, our government also regulates the radio frequency usage of this product. In other words, smart washing machine is also mandatory to obtain DJID certification before this product can be sold in the Indonesian market. This is to ensure that this product usage would not cause frequency interference with the other wireless product. If you have any questions or inquiries of such products, you can visit us on this link or contact us at info@narmadi.com