Purdue Hackers wanted a way to use Passports to access Hack Night. We wanted a way to use custom data in the NFC tag to allow people to enter the building. Our first problem was the method for unlocking and opening the door, since we didn’t have access to modify any parts of the existing access control system. After lots of experimenting, we made a box that you can stick on to the ADA access button to push it whenever someone needs let in, while not obstructing it for any people who need it.

I then was tasked to make an interface for using this box. This took the form of a box that you can suction cup to the door with a display and an NFC reader. You could tap your Passport on the nfc reader, the Raspberry Pi inside the door opener would contact our central auth server to verify the passport, the display would tell you if it was successful, and the ADA pusher would open the door if it was.