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03Connected Access Control

Global Smart Lock

Production smart lock for industrial and telecom sites with 4G LTE remote access and tamper detection.

  • ESP32
  • LTE
  • MQTT
  • Altium Designer
Smart lock IoT node PCB render

Problem

Unmanned sites need remote access control that keeps working when local network infrastructure or primary power is unavailable.

System overview

A production smart lock built on the ESP32, using 4G LTE with MQTT for remote access control, vibration-based tamper detection, and battery failover through an ORing diode arrangement on a 48–72V input.

Responsibilities

  • Hardware design: schematic and PCB layout
  • Power path design with battery failover
  • Firmware for LTE connectivity, MQTT messaging and tamper detection

Hardware architecture

  • ESP32 application processor
  • 4G LTE cellular modem
  • 48–72V DC input with ORing diode battery failover
  • Vibration sensing for tamper detection

Firmware architecture

  • MQTT client over cellular for remote lock/unlock
  • Tamper event detection and reporting
  • Power source monitoring and failover handling

Communication interfaces

  • LTE / 4G
  • MQTT
  • UART
  • GPIO

Engineering challenges

  • Keeping the lock reachable across power source transitions
  • Distinguishing genuine tamper events from ambient vibration

Hardware & diagrams

Smart lock IoT node PCB render
Smart lock IoT node PCB render
Smart lock assembled board with cellular antenna
Smart lock assembled board with cellular antenna

Additional documentation — block diagrams, schematics, bench-test photographs and instrumentation captures — can be added to this section.