IoT Smart Door Lock System With Real Time Alerts

Have you ever wanted a home security system that feels smarter, faster, and more secure than traditional locks? My latest project brings that idea to life. I’ve designed and built an IoT Smart Door Lock System With Real Time Alerts, combining modern design with reliable, real-time access control.

The system features a sleek, tech-inspired enclosure and uses the DFRobot HuskyLens AI Machine Vision Sensor at its core. HuskyLens handles facial recognition with impressive speed and accuracy, making it ideal for secure access applications. When an authorized face appears, the door unlocks instantly, and a Telegram bot immediately sends a notification to your phone. The system supports multiple authorized users, and each successful recognition generates an alert. If an unknown face appears, the lock stays engaged silently, ensuring maximum security.

The workflow is seamless — HuskyLens continuously scans, identifies, and verifies faces while the Espressif ESP32-C6 handles the logic, communication, and notification system efficiently. All decisions are made locally at the edge, ensuring fast, reliable performance without any cloud dependency.

The final result is a responsive, robust, and elegant smart door access system built around IoT and AI principles. It demonstrates how edge AI & Modern microcontrollers can elevate everyday security solutions, making them more intelligent, efficient, and user-friendly.

Step 1: CAD & 3D Printing

To start this project, I Started designing the CAD using Fusion 360. It’s a simple and compact design that’s easy to print and assemble. If you’d like to view or edit the model, you can open it directly in your browser using the Fusion 360 web viewer. Feel free to customize it however you like.

For 3D Printing, You can directly download the required STL files below:

• Main Panel.stl
• Back.stl

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Step 2: Face Recognition

Registering your face on the HuskyLens is very easy. Switch the HuskyLens to Face Recognition mode, then Point the + symbol at a face, short press the learning button to learn the face. If the same face is detected by HuskyLens, a blue frame with words Face: ID1 will be displayed on the screen, which indicates that HuskyLens has learned the face and can recognize it now.You can repeat the process to add multiple faces, each with its own unique ID.

Step 3: Huskeylens Assembly

Start by placing the HuskyLens into its dedicated slot inside the enclosure. Make sure it is aligned correctly with the front opening for a clear view. Once positioned, secure it firmly using the two provided screws.

After securing the module, connect the included 4-pin JST connector to the HuskyLens. This connector makes the wiring neat and simple, ensuring a stable and reliable connection.

Step 4: DC Jack Assembly

Insert the DC female jack into the dedicated slot in the enclosure. Ensure it is properly aligned so that connecting the male jack from outside for power input will be smooth and convenient. To secure it firmly in place, apply small amount of T-7000 glue (or any strong adhesive of your choice).

Step 5: Microcontroller Assembly

Place the microcontroller inside the enclosure at the cutout for the Type-C port. Align it properly so the Type-C connector is accessible from outside for easy programming. Apply a small amount of T-7000 glue to fix it in place. Don’t use too much glue—just enough to hold it securely.

Step 6: MP1584 Setup & Assembly

There isn’t a dedicated slot for the MP1584 buck converter, so you can place it in any free space inside the enclosure. Before fixing it with T7000 glue, first set it up for a stable 5V output. To do this, connect two wires to the input and provide 12V. Then, measure the output voltage and carefully rotate the potentiometer on the buck converter until it reads exactly 5V. Once it is set, secure the module inside the enclosure.

Warning: Be gentle while adjusting the potentiometer. Rotating it too much can cause sudden voltage spikes, which may damage your circuit.

Step 7: Mosfet Assembly

Since the enclosure is designed with a thick wall for a more professional look, the MOSFET module could not be placed directly inside. To solve this, I removed the MOSFET from the module first.

There isn’t a dedicated slot for the MOSFET, so you can place it in any free space inside the enclosure. Once positioned, secure it firmly using T-7000 glue. Make sure the MOSFET is fixed properly and has enough space for air circulation, as it can heat up during use.

Step 8: Solenoid Lock

Pass both wires of the solenoid lock through the two small holes provided in the enclosure. These holes are made specifically to allow the wires to pass through easily for proper connection. Ensure the wires are passed gently without pulling too hard to avoid damage.

Step 9: Connection

You can follow the circuit diagram above to make all the connections. However, for clarity, I’ve also explained each connection step by step below.

HuskyLens AI Camera

• VCC → 5V pin of ESP32-C6
• GND → GND of ESP32-C6
• TX → RX of ESP32-C6
• RX → TX of ESP32-C6

ESP32-C6 Microcontroler

• VIN → 5V output from MP1584 buck converter
• GND → Common GND (shared with HuskyLens, MOSFET, and power supply)
• TX/RX → Connected to HuskyLens
• GPIO pin → Gate of MOSFET (through resistor)

MOSFET (for Solenoid Control)

• Gate → ESP32 GPIO pin
• Source → GND
• Drain → Negative wire of Solenoid Lock

Resistor connected with Gate & Drain Pin

Solenoid Lock

• Positive wire → 12V supply
• Negative wire → MOSFET Drain

Power Supply (12V input via DC Jack)

• Positive → Solenoid Lock positive wire + input of MP1584 buck converter
• Negative → Common GND to MP1584 Buck Converter.

MP1584 Buck Converter

• Input + → 12V supply positive
• Input – → 12V supply negative (GND)
• Output + → ESP32 VIN (5V)
• Output – → ESP32 GND

Step 10: Final Assembly

Once all the components are in place, align the cover with the bottom enclosure and ensure the camera opening is clear. Match the orientation properly, then secure the cover using two screws. Do not overtighten the screws, as this may damage the enclosure or misalign the cover.

Step 11: Telegram Chat Bot

Creating a chatbot on Telegram is quick and easy. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather, then start a chat. Type /newbot and follow the prompts.

• Bot name: Enter any name you like for your project.
• Username: Choose a unique username for your bot. It must end in bot Like this, (for example: TetrisBot or tetris_bot)

Once completed, BotFather will send you a congratulations message along with your Bot Token ID. Make sure to keep your token secure and store it safely, it can be used by anyone to control your bot, as well as it will be required later to connect your hardware with the bot.

Step 12: Chat ID

After creating your chatbot, open your internet browser and go to;)

https://api.telegram.org/bot<YOUR_BOT_TOKEN>/getUpdates

Replace <YOUR_BOT_TOKEN> with the token you got from BotFather. At first, you might see some basic data with true or false values. Now, go back to your chatbot in Telegram and send it any message, such as hi. Then return to your browser and refresh the page. If everything is correct, you will see some data along with your Chat ID, which will be used later in the code.

Step 13: Arduino IDE Setup

Install Arduino IDE

If you do not already have it, download and install Arduino IDE 2.0 latest Version from official website of Arduino.

Add the ESP32-C6 Board Support URL

• Open Arduino IDE.
• Go to File > Preferences.
• In the Additional Board Manager URLs field, paste the following URL:

https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_index.json

• Click OK to save your changes.

Install the latest version of ESP32 Board.

• Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager.
• In the search bar, type ESP32.
• Click & Install the latest version of ESP32

Verify Board Installation

• Once installed, ESP32-C6 should now appear under Tools > Board.
• Select ESP32-C6 Dev Board from the list to start programming the device.

Step 14: Code Uploading

Once ready, follow these steps to upload the code:

• Visit the Door Lock GitHub Repository and download the complete project as a ZIP file.
• Extract the ZIP archive to your computer and open the .ino file in the Arduino IDE.
• Install the following required libraries from the Library Manager (Sketch → Include Library → Manage Libraries…):
• Huskeylens.h

Set-up In Code

Before uploading the code, make sure to update it with your own Wi-Fi credentials in these lines:

// WiFi credentials
const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_SSID";
const char* password = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD";

Replace "YOUR_WIFI_SSID" with the name of your Wi-Fi network, and "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD" with your actual Wi-Fi password. Be sure to keep the quotation marks around your credentials.

Next, enter your Telegram bot credentials in these lines:

// Telegram Bot credentials
const char* botToken = "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN";
const char* chatID = "YOUR_CHAT_ID";

Replace "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN" with your own bot token which one you got during creating a bot, and "YOUR_CHAT_ID" with your own chat ID which one you got from internet browser.

Uploading Code

Once your code is ready, connect your DFRobot Beetle ESP32-C3 to your computer using a USB cable. In Arduino IDE, make sure to select the correct board and port: go to Tools → Board → ESP32 Boards → ESP32-C6 Dev Board and Tools → Port → select the COM port your board is connected to. Click Upload in Arduino IDE. The IDE will compile the code and then upload it to your board.

Step 15: Testing

Now it’s time to bring the project to life. Provide a 12V supply to the DC jack — you can simply use a 12V adapter for this. Once the power is supplied, wait for about 5 to 10 seconds, as the microcontroller needs a short time to connect with WiFi.

After it connected successfully, I pointed the camera toward my face — and you won’t believe how well it worked! The HuskyLens instantly recognized me, and the door unlocked almost immediately. The responsiveness was even faster than I expected — it felt like a real professional smart lock system.

On top of that, I also received a notification on my Telegram via the bot I created, confirming the unlock event. This made the whole experience more exciting and reliable, as I could monitor the activity in real-time.

Conclusion

Building this project helped me turn a simple idea into a smart, reliable, and secure access system powered by AI. It showed how everyday problems can be solved with clear design, practical engineering, and a bit of creativity. This project strengthened my understanding of IoT and edge AI, and I’m excited to keep creating solutions that are both useful and innovative.

Happy Making 🤞🏻