Final​ ​Report

Panther​ ​Bike​ ​Lock

Professor​ ​Shelly​ ​Miller

GEEN​ ​1400

10​ ​December​ ​2015

By:

​ ​Natalie​ ​Betts,​ ​Maxx​ ​Helfer,​ ​Kendle​ ​McDowell,​ ​Sung​ ​Moon,

and​ ​Eric​ ​Perkey

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 Table​ ​of​ ​Contents

Executive​ ​Summary………………………………………………………………...3

Chapter​ ​I:​ ​Background…………………………………………………………...4-7

Chapter​ ​II:​ ​The​ ​Design​ ​Process………………………………………………....8-15

A. Brainstorming…………………………………………………………….7-11

B. Description​ ​of​ ​Design…………………………………………………..11-12

C. Summary​ ​of​ ​Parts……………………………………………………….12-15

a. Where​ ​Parts​ ​were​ ​Bought………………………………………..12-13

b. Machining…………………………………………………………...13

c. Assembly…………………………………………………………….14

d. Cost………………………………………………………………14-15

Chapter​ ​III:​ ​Analysis​ ​and​ ​Testing……………………………………………..15-16

Chapter​ ​IV:​ ​User’s​ ​Operating​ ​Instructions…………………………………….16-17

Chapter​ ​V:​ ​Team​ ​Performance……………………………………………………17

Chapter​ ​VI:​ ​Conclusions…………………………………………………….….18

Chapter​ ​VII:​ ​Recommendations……………………………………………....…..18

Works​ ​Cited…………………………………………………………………….....19

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Executive​ ​Summary

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​main​ ​issue​ ​that​ ​we​ ​aimed​ ​to​ ​address​ ​was​ ​the​ ​issues​ ​of​ ​the​ ​current​ ​bike​ ​racks​ ​on​ ​campus.
In​ ​their​ ​current​ ​states​ ​bikes​ ​are​ ​left​ ​in​ ​vaguely​ ​organized​ ​heaps,​ ​leaning​ ​on​ ​one​ ​another​ ​or​ ​even
being​ ​cosier​ ​with​ ​the​ ​concrete​ ​than​ ​they​ ​are​ ​with​ ​the​ ​actual​ ​bike​ ​rack.​ ​This​ ​causes​ ​students​ ​a
great​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​frustration​ ​when​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​retrieve​ ​or​ ​put​ ​a​ ​bike​ ​away.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​project​ ​we​ ​decided​ ​on​ ​to​ ​fix​ ​this​ ​issue​ ​was​ ​a​ ​lock​ ​that​ ​could​ ​be​ ​easily​ ​installed​ ​onto​ ​the
less​ ​than​ ​effective​ ​racks​ ​the​ ​campus​ ​uses​ ​now.​ ​The​ ​lock​ ​consisted​ ​of​ ​three​ ​main​ ​components:​ ​the
chain​ ​lock,​ ​the​ ​solenoid,​ ​and​ ​an​ ​Arduino.​ ​The​ ​chain​ ​was​ ​the​ ​simplest,​ ​as​ ​it​ ​physically​ ​locks​ ​the
bike.​ ​A​ ​metal​ ​piece​ ​is​ ​attached​ ​to​ ​a​ ​galvanized​ ​steel​ ​cable​ ​wrapped​ ​in​ ​chain.​ ​The​ ​solenoid​ ​works
on​ ​a​ ​separate​ ​circuit​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​too​ ​much​ ​power​ ​from​ ​running​ ​into​ ​the​ ​Arduino.​ ​All​ ​of
the​ ​components​ ​were​ ​made​ ​to​ ​work​ ​separately​ ​and​ ​then​ ​combined​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​working​ ​system​ ​that
locks.​ ​When​ ​a​ ​user​ ​swipes​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​BuffOne​ ​card​ ​the​ ​Solenoid​ ​becomes​ ​energized​ ​as​ ​the​ ​relay
on​ ​the​ ​Arduino​ ​completes​ ​its​ ​circuit.​ ​This​ ​then​ ​magnetizes​ ​the​ ​Solenoid​ ​and​ ​pulls​ ​the​ ​pin​ ​up​ ​out
of​ ​the​ ​nipple​ ​to​ ​unlock​ ​the​ ​bike.​ ​We​ ​had​ ​trouble​ ​getting​ ​the​ ​components​ ​to​ ​communicate
properly​ ​at​ ​first​ ​since​ ​we​ ​had​ ​built​ ​them​ ​separate​ ​from​ ​one​ ​another,​ ​but​ ​fortunately​ ​the​ ​lock​ ​was
functioning​ ​when​ ​the​ ​Design​ ​Expo​ ​came​ ​around.
The​ ​team​ ​definitely​ ​experienced​ ​frustrating​ ​obstacles​ ​when​ ​working​ ​in​ ​the​ ​class,​ ​as​ ​well
as​ ​a​ ​few​ ​issues​ ​when​ ​presenting​ ​the​ ​project​ ​during​ ​the​ ​expo,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​overall​ ​experience​ ​was
positive​ ​for​ ​our​ ​team.​ ​The​ ​failure​ ​we​ ​had​ ​with​ ​the​ ​project​ ​was​ ​an​ ​invaluable​ ​learning​ ​experience
for​ ​every​ ​member​ ​of​ ​the​ ​group​ ​and​ ​as​ ​a​ ​team​ ​we​ ​all​ ​worked​ ​well​ ​together.​ ​We​ ​were​ ​able​ ​to
create​ ​an​ ​exciting​ ​and​ ​unique​ ​project​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​diversity​ ​of​ ​personalities​ ​and​ ​our​ ​ability​ ​to
work​ ​with​ ​that​ ​diversity.​ ​We​ ​usually​ ​reached​ ​a​ ​consensus​ ​fairly​ ​quickly​ ​and​ ​prioritized​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as
executed​ ​tasks​ ​effectively​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​be​ ​well​ ​prepared​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Expo.

Chapter​ ​I:​ ​Background

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​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​In​ ​recent​ ​years​ ​it​ ​seems​ ​that​ ​environmental​ ​issues​ ​are​ ​finally​ ​being​ ​placed​ ​at​ ​the​ ​forefront​ ​of
human​ ​endeavors​ ​and​ ​it​ ​is​ ​becoming​ ​more​ ​and​ ​more​ ​important​ ​for​ ​businesses​ ​and​ ​individuals
alike​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​them​ ​in​ ​their​ ​daily​ ​operations.​ ​One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​pervasive​ ​issues​ ​these​ ​days
is​ ​air​ ​pollution​ ​as​ ​we​ ​maintain​ ​a​ ​heavy​ ​reliance​ ​on​ ​motor​ ​vehicles.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​group​ ​we​ ​may​ ​not​ ​have
initially​ ​had​ ​environmental​ ​issues​ ​at​ ​the​ ​forefront​ ​of​ ​the​ ​project,​ ​but​ ​any​ ​involvement​ ​with
promoting​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​bikes​ ​has​ ​a​ ​byproduct​ ​that​ ​supports​ ​environmental​ ​awareness.​ ​Bikes,
though​ ​they​ ​lack​ ​the​ ​speed​ ​of​ ​cars,​ ​still​ ​save​ ​a​ ​reasonable​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​travel​ ​time,​ ​especially​ ​in
areas​ ​with​ ​traffic,​ ​and​ ​prevent​ ​a​ ​large​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​vehicular​ ​pollution.​ ​Our​ ​project​ ​aims​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a
bike​ ​lock​ ​for​ ​bike​ ​racks​ ​that​ ​will​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​convenience​ ​that​ ​draws​ ​people​ ​to​ ​bike​ ​more​ ​and​ ​find
driving​ ​less​ ​of​ ​a​ ​necessity.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Driving​ ​pollutes​ ​the​ ​air​ ​and​ ​most​ ​people​ ​are​ ​completely​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​this​ ​fact,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​unfortunate
reality​ ​is​ ​that​ ​driving​ ​is​ ​too​ ​convenient​ ​and​ ​necessary​ ​for​ ​people​ ​to​ ​abandon​ ​altogether.​ ​The
number​ ​of​ ​passenger​ ​cars​ ​in​ ​the​ ​US​ ​has​ ​remained​ ​around​ ​135,000,000​ ​since​ ​2002​ ​so​ ​it​ ​is
unrealistic​ ​to​ ​think​ ​that​ ​bikes​ ​will​ ​ever​ ​replace​ ​cars,​ ​but​ ​an​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​the​ ​frequency​ ​that​ ​people
bike​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​a​ ​decrease​ ​in​ ​driving​ ​is​ ​the​ ​key​ ​to​ ​lowering​ ​the​ ​massive​ ​output​ ​of​ ​pollution​ ​into
the​ ​air​ ​by​ ​vehicles​ ​(National​ ​Transportation​ ​Statistics,​ ​2015).​ ​For​ ​years​ ​people​ ​have​ ​been​ ​trying
to​ ​make​ ​the​ ​car​ ​better,​ ​and​ ​though​ ​improved​ ​gas​ ​mileage​ ​and​ ​lowered​ ​emissions​ ​have​ ​improved
greatly​ ​by​ ​human​ ​innovation,​ ​motor​ ​vehicles​ ​still​ ​produce​ ​more​ ​than​ ​30%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​U.S’s​ ​carbon
dioxide​ ​emissions​ ​as​ ​the​ ​average​ ​American​ ​may​ ​emit​ ​4.7​ ​tons​ ​of​ ​carbon​ ​annually​ ​(Greenhouse
Gas​ ​Emissions).​ ​That’s​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​carbon​ ​that​ ​is​ ​impossible​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Earth​ ​to​ ​cycle
through.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​result​ ​of​ ​all​ ​of​ ​this​ ​carbon​ ​going​ ​into​ ​the​ ​atmosphere​ ​is​ ​a​ ​severe​ ​imbalance​ ​in​ ​the​ ​carbon
cycle.​ ​The​ ​additional​ ​burden​ ​will​ ​cause​ ​excess​ ​CO​2​​ ​to​ ​remain​ ​in​ ​the​ ​atmosphere​ ​for​ ​many
thousands​ ​of​ ​years​ ​(Carbon​ ​Cycle​ ​Science,​ ​2015).​ ​Carbon​ ​is​ ​cycled​ ​through​ ​the​ ​earth​ ​and​ ​air​ ​and
its​ ​abundance​ ​keeps​ ​life​ ​on​ ​earth​ ​thriving.​ ​The​ ​NOAA,​ ​the​ ​National​ ​Oceanic​ ​and​ ​Atmospheric
Administration​ ​is​ ​charged​ ​with​ ​monitoring​ ​carbon​ ​emissions​ ​by​ ​providing​ ​analysis​ ​and
measurements​ ​that​ ​allow​ ​us​ ​to​ ​predict​ ​the​ ​effects​ ​of​ ​heavy​ ​carbon​ ​output.​ ​Carbon​ ​only​ ​makes​ ​up
0.04%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​atmosphere,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​purpose​ ​of​ ​carbon​ ​is​ ​to​ ​trap​ ​longwave​ ​radiation​ ​which​ ​creates​ ​a
warming​ ​effect​ ​on​ ​the​ ​planet​ ​(Carbon​ ​Cycle​ ​Science).​ ​This​ ​process​ ​is​ ​crucial​ ​for​ ​the​ ​survival​ ​of

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living​ ​organisms​ ​on​ ​Earth,​ ​but​ ​as​ ​more​ ​and​ ​more​ ​carbon​ ​builds​ ​up​ ​the​ ​warming​ ​affect​ ​becomes
amplified​ ​and​ ​has​ ​other​ ​adverse​ ​environmental​ ​effects.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​In​ ​light​ ​of​ ​these​ ​issues​ ​many​ ​communities​ ​have​ ​been​ ​responding​ ​and​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​combat​ ​the
human​ ​race’s​ ​careless​ ​pollution.​ ​Cities​ ​are​ ​finding​ ​new​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​lessen​ ​traffic​ ​and​ ​car​ ​congestion
by​ ​encouraging​ ​an​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​bike​ ​traffic.​ ​The​ ​city​ ​of​ ​Long​ ​Beach,​ ​California​ ​put​ ​aside​ ​money​ ​to
implement​ ​more​ ​biking​ ​infrastructure.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​prototype​ ​they​ ​laid​ ​down​ ​a​ ​five-foot​ ​wide​ ​strip​ ​of
green​ ​paint​ ​in​ ​a​ ​traffic​ ​lane​ ​that​ ​indicated​ ​bikers​ ​could​ ​legally​ ​share​ ​the​ ​lane.​ ​The​ ​result​ ​was​ ​that
“the​ ​street​ ​saw​ ​about​ ​400​ ​cyclists​ ​and​ ​40,000​ ​motorists​ ​a​ ​day.​ ​After​ ​the​ ​paint​ ​dried​ ​two​ ​and​ ​a​ ​half
years​ ​ago,​ ​the​ ​street​ ​sees​ ​about​ ​1,000​ ​cyclists​ ​per​ ​day”​ ​which​ ​is​ ​an​ ​amazing​ ​improvement​ ​(Berg,
N).
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​In​ ​order​ ​to​ ​get​ ​a​ ​better​ ​feel​ ​for​ ​how​ ​actual​ ​people​ ​with​ ​bikes​ ​would​ ​respond​ ​to​ ​our​ ​project​ ​we
asked​ ​a​ ​few​ ​questions​ ​of​ ​students​ ​who​ ​would​ ​potentially​ ​be​ ​interacting​ ​with​ ​our​ ​product.​ ​One​ ​of
those​ ​students,​ ​an​ ​avid​ ​biker​ ​who​ ​wished​ ​to​ ​remain​ ​anonymous,​ ​stated​ ​that​ ​he​ ​thought​ ​the​ ​idea
was​ ​“very​ ​useful”​ ​and​ ​though​ ​he’d​ ​probably​ ​trust​ ​his​ ​own​ ​name​ ​brand​ ​lock-On​ ​Guard-a​ ​little
more,​ ​he​ ​thought​ ​the​ ​bike​ ​racks​ ​needed​ ​some​ ​organization.​ ​We​ ​asked​ ​about​ ​what​ ​he​ ​thought
about​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​of​ ​carbon​ ​emissions​ ​from​ ​cars​ ​and​ ​he​ ​thought​ ​that​ ​people​ ​should​ ​definitely​ ​be
biking​ ​more​ ​and​ ​he​ ​supported​ ​any​ ​project​ ​that​ ​would​ ​encourage​ ​people​ ​to​ ​use​ ​cars​ ​less.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Another​ ​student​ ​we​ ​interviewed,​ ​a​ ​freshmen,​ ​Alex​ ​Deegan,​ ​said​ ​she​ ​enjoyed​ ​the​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​using
her​ ​card​ ​to​ ​lock​ ​her​ ​bike​ ​up.​ ​She​ ​said​ ​she​ ​hates​ ​carrying​ ​around​ ​her​ ​lock​ ​and​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​wedge​ ​her
bike​ ​and​ ​lock​ ​between​ ​the​ ​bikes​ ​of​ ​others​ ​and​ ​sometimes​ ​she​ ​runs​ ​late​ ​to​ ​class​ ​because​ ​she​ ​can’t
find​ ​a​ ​space.​ ​We​ ​asked​ ​if​ ​she’d​ ​feel​ ​that​ ​her​ ​bike​ ​was​ ​safe​ ​and​ ​she​ ​admitted​ ​she’d​ ​want​ ​to​ ​“see
how​ ​it​ ​worked​ ​first”​ ​but​ ​ultimately​ ​if​ ​it​ ​was​ ​put​ ​on​ ​the​ ​campus​ ​by​ ​the​ ​school​ ​she’d​ ​trust​ ​it.​ ​We
also​ ​asked​ ​her​ ​about​ ​her​ ​thoughts​ ​on​ ​car​ ​pollution​ ​and​ ​she​ ​said​ ​that​ ​though​ ​it​ ​is​ ​a​ ​bad​ ​thing​ ​she
personally​ ​loves​ ​driving.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​faster​ ​than​ ​biking​ ​and​ ​is​ ​better​ ​when​ ​winter​ ​comes​ ​around,​ ​but​ ​she
thinks​ ​that​ ​that​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​should​ ​be​ ​fixed,​ ​though​ ​biking​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be​ ​the​ ​ultimate​ ​way​ ​to​ ​solve​ ​the
problem.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​I’m​ ​sure​ ​most​ ​people​ ​are​ ​fully​ ​aware​ ​that​ ​driving​ ​is​ ​bad​ ​for​ ​the​ ​environment,​ ​maybe​ ​not​ ​so
much​ ​the​ ​exact​ ​science​ ​of​ ​how,​ ​but​ ​most​ ​people​ ​know​ ​that​ ​humans​ ​are​ ​hurting​ ​their​ ​surroundings
by​ ​driving.​ ​So​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​is​ ​not​ ​so​ ​much​ ​providing​ ​information,​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​make​ ​places​ ​biker

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friendly.​ ​Anyone​ ​can​ ​bombard​ ​people​ ​with​ ​facts​ ​and​ ​charts​ ​and​ ​never​ ​get​ ​any​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​real​ ​notion
into​ ​their​ ​heads​ ​because​ ​let’s​ ​face​ ​it​ ​driving​ ​is​ ​an​ ​integral​ ​part​ ​of​ ​life​ ​in​ ​today’s​ ​society.​ ​It’s​ ​very
difficult​ ​to​ ​live​ ​in​ ​this​ ​world​ ​without​ ​a​ ​car,​ ​or​ ​a​ ​reliable​ ​means​ ​of​ ​transportation.​ ​Our​ ​project​ ​is
aiming​ ​to​ ​create​ ​spaces​ ​where​ ​people​ ​can​ ​bike​ ​safely​ ​and​ ​conveniently.​ ​Though​ ​it​ ​is​ ​targeted
toward​ ​a​ ​campus​ ​environment​ ​in​ ​Boulder,​ ​Colorado-an​ ​extremely​ ​bike​ ​conscious​ ​city-being​ ​a
part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​movement​ ​to​ ​encourage​ ​biking​ ​helps​ ​to​ ​inform​ ​students​ ​of​ ​the​ ​impacts​ ​of​ ​their
transportation​ ​habits.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Provoking​ ​people​ ​to​ ​take​ ​action​ ​is​ ​a​ ​much​ ​harder​ ​feat.​ ​People​ ​are​ ​much​ ​easier​ ​to​ ​persuade​ ​into
action​ ​when​ ​they​ ​feel​ ​emotionally​ ​attached​ ​to​ ​something​ ​and​ ​facts​ ​sometimes​ ​lack​ ​the​ ​effect​ ​to
create​ ​an​ ​emotional​ ​attachment,​ ​especially​ ​to​ ​biking.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​where​ ​the​ ​novelty​ ​and​ ​excitement
comes​ ​in.​ ​Luckily,​ ​we​ ​are​ ​living​ ​in​ ​a​ ​society​ ​where​ ​technology​ ​is​ ​always​ ​being​ ​improved​ ​or
implemented​ ​in​ ​new​ ​ways.​ ​So​ ​what​ ​will​ ​provoke​ ​people​ ​is​ ​the​ ​excitement​ ​of​ ​a​ ​new​ ​use​ ​of​ ​an
everyday​ ​technology.​ ​Student​ ​ID’s​ ​create​ ​a​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​personal​ ​attachment​ ​as​ ​well​ ​since​ ​it​ ​will
make​ ​a​ ​public​ ​lock​ ​feel​ ​more​ ​personal.​ ​The​ ​main​ ​goal​ ​of​ ​our​ ​project​ ​is​ ​to​ ​make​ ​someone​ ​find​ ​the
biking​ ​lifestyle​ ​alluring​ ​and​ ​exciting​ ​so​ ​that​ ​we​ ​can​ ​elicit​ ​change.​ ​It​ ​may​ ​only​ ​be​ ​a​ ​small​ ​change
but​ ​means​ ​to​ ​help​ ​our​ ​planet’s​ ​welfare​ ​is​ ​necessary.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​Panther​ ​Bike​ ​Lock​ ​is​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​implementing​ ​the​ ​standardized​ ​campus​ ​identification
cards​ ​known​ ​as​ ​BuffOne​ ​Cards​ ​into​ ​biking​ ​security.​ ​Students​ ​already​ ​use​ ​these​ ​cards​ ​to​ ​access
almost​ ​all​ ​services​ ​offered​ ​by​ ​the​ ​campus,​ ​which​ ​means​ ​that​ ​swiping​ ​in​ ​to​ ​use​ ​a​ ​bike​ ​rack​ ​is​ ​not
strange​ ​but​ ​instead​ ​familiar​ ​and​ ​a​ ​new​ ​and​ ​interesting​ ​way​ ​of​ ​using​ ​these​ ​cards.​ ​Biking​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a
great​ ​and​ ​widely​ ​utilized​ ​way​ ​to​ ​get​ ​around​ ​campus​ ​so​ ​students​ ​are​ ​more​ ​than​ ​familiar​ ​with​ ​the
current​ ​racks​ ​and​ ​the​ ​many​ ​forms​ ​of​ ​locks​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​the​ ​issues​ ​of​ ​all​ ​of​ ​them.​ ​Our​ ​lock​ ​sets​ ​out
to​ ​solve​ ​such​ ​issues​ ​such​ ​as​ ​crowded​ ​racks,​ ​cumbersome​ ​locks,​ ​unreliable​ ​locks,​ ​and​ ​rampant
thievery​ ​and​ ​vandalism.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​lock​ ​has​ ​3​ ​basic​ ​components.​ ​The​ ​first​ ​component,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​simplest,​ ​is​ ​of​ ​course​ ​the
actual​ ​lock.​ ​A​ ​metal​ ​rod​ ​called​ ​the​ ​nipple,​ ​sits​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​a​ ​twisted​ ​length​ ​of​ ​galvanized​ ​steel
cable,​ ​3/8​ ​inch​ ​thick.​ ​This​ ​cable​ ​is​ ​also​ ​wrapped​ ​in​ ​low​ ​carbon​ ​steel​ ​chain​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​anyone
from​ ​attempting​ ​to​ ​cut​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​as​ ​the​ ​chain​ ​links​ ​make​ ​it​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​get​ ​any​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​cutter
around​ ​the​ ​cable.​ ​The​ ​nipple​ ​slides​ ​into​ ​the​ ​lock​ ​which​ ​consists​ ​only​ ​of​ ​a​ ​pin​ ​that​ ​locks​ ​and

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unlocks​ ​by​ ​being​ ​placed​ ​in​ ​a​ ​fitted​ ​hole​ ​in​ ​the​ ​nipple.​ ​The​ ​next​ ​component​ ​is​ ​the​ ​solenoid,​ ​which
has​ ​its​ ​own​ ​separate​ ​circuit-this​ ​is​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​too​ ​much​ ​power​ ​from​ ​going​ ​into​ ​the​ ​third
component​ ​the​ ​Arduino.​ ​The​ ​Solenoid​ ​when​ ​energized​ ​pulls​ ​the​ ​pin​ ​up​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​nipple​ ​and
unlocks​ ​the​ ​bike.​ ​Solenoids​ ​are​ ​inductors​ ​so​ ​locking​ ​requires​ ​the​ ​solenoid​ ​to​ ​be​ ​off.​ ​The​ ​Arduino
can​ ​only​ ​take​ ​a​ ​very​ ​small​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​voltage​ ​so​ ​it​ ​is​ ​crucial​ ​that​ ​the​ ​solenoid​ ​stay​ ​unconnected
from​ ​it.​ ​The​ ​Arduino​ ​will​ ​receive​ ​information​ ​from​ ​the​ ​card​ ​swiper​ ​and​ ​tell​ ​an​ ​arm​ ​on​ ​a​ ​servo​ ​to
move​ ​back​ ​and​ ​forth.​ ​This​ ​arm​ ​with​ ​complete​ ​and​ ​break​ ​the​ ​solenoid’s​ ​circuit​ ​so​ ​that​ ​it​ ​can
energize​ ​and​ ​turn​ ​off​ ​the​ ​solenoid.​ ​This​ ​all​ ​creates​ ​a​ ​lock​ ​that​ ​will​ ​allow​ ​the​ ​user​ ​to​ ​swipe​ ​in,​ ​lock
their​ ​bike,​ ​and​ ​unlock​ ​the​ ​rack​ ​by​ ​swiping​ ​only​ ​their​ ​card.

Chapter​ ​II:​ ​The​ ​Design​ ​Process

A. Brainstorming
Vertical​ ​Mount​ ​and​ ​Lock

Figure​ ​1:​ ​Vertical​ ​placed​ ​bike​ ​with​ ​bike​ ​lock​ ​attachment

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​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Multiple​ ​ideas​ ​were​ ​drawn​ ​up​ ​to​ ​create​ ​an​ ​initial​ ​solution​ ​to​ ​the​ ​bike​ ​lock.​ ​In​ ​order​ ​to​ ​create
ideas,​ ​we​ ​walked​ ​to​ ​the​ ​bike​ ​racks​ ​that​ ​are​ ​placed​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​Baker​ ​and​ ​Libby​ ​Hall.​ ​These​ ​bike
racks​ ​are​ ​covered​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​the​ ​bikes​ ​dry​ ​and​ ​also​ ​are​ ​vertically​ ​hung​ ​from​ ​the​ ​front​ ​tire​ ​as​ ​shown
in​ ​Figure​ ​1.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​We​ ​developed​ ​an​ ​idea​ ​to​ ​use​ ​the​ ​same​ ​bike​ ​rack​ ​design​ ​and​ ​add​ ​our​ ​bike​ ​lock​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​mount
that​ ​holds​ ​the​ ​bike.​ ​The​ ​idea​ ​is​ ​that​ ​the​ ​bike​ ​is​ ​hung​ ​on​ ​the​ ​hook,​ ​then​ ​one​ ​swipes​ ​their​ ​card​ ​and​ ​a
steel​ ​beam​ ​would​ ​extend​ ​outward​ ​through​ ​the​ ​frame​ ​which​ ​would​ ​secure​ ​the​ ​bike.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​We​ ​wanted​ ​our​ ​product​ ​to​ ​be​ ​used​ ​by​ ​everyone​ ​that​ ​owns​ ​a​ ​bike.​ ​This​ ​includes​ ​a​ ​wide​ ​range
of​ ​ages.​ ​The​ ​problem​ ​with​ ​this​ ​idea​ ​is​ ​that​ ​some​ ​people​ ​may​ ​not​ ​have​ ​the​ ​strength​ ​to​ ​prop​ ​their
bike​ ​up​ ​and​ ​lift​ ​it​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​hook.​ ​Also,​ ​the​ ​steel​ ​beam​ ​that​ ​would​ ​go​ ​through​ ​the​ ​frame​ ​is​ ​heavy
as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​expensive.​ ​Even​ ​if​ ​theses​ ​problems​ ​were​ ​addressed,​ ​not​ ​all​ ​bike​ ​frames​ ​are​ ​the​ ​same
shape​ ​and​ ​size.​ ​With​ ​these​ ​problems​ ​noted,​ ​we​ ​moved​ ​to​ ​our​ ​next​ ​ideas,​ ​which​ ​are​ ​described​ ​in
the​ ​following​ ​section
Cable​ ​and​ ​User-Triggered​ ​Lock
Description​:
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​flexibility​ ​of​ ​the​ ​metal​ ​beam​ ​locking​ ​mechanism,​ ​we​ ​had​ ​to​ ​think​ ​about
materials​ ​that​ ​could​ ​bend​ ​easily​ ​to​ ​fit​ ​through​ ​any​ ​bicycle​ ​frame.​ ​After​ ​some​ ​research,​ ​we​ ​found
that​ ​galvanized​ ​steel​ ​is​ ​the​ ​best​ ​and​ ​most​ ​commonly​ ​used​ ​cable​ ​to​ ​lock​ ​bikes.​ ​After​ ​settling​ ​on
the​ ​cable,​ ​we​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​lock​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​to​ ​something.​ ​From​ ​here​ ​we​ ​brainstormed​ ​three​ ​ideas:

Figure​ ​2:​​ ​Clamp​ ​that​ ​secures​ ​the​ ​bike​ ​lock

Clamp

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​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​At​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​we​ ​would​ ​attach​ ​a​ ​locking​ ​device,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​called​ ​a​ ​nipple,​ ​that​ ​would
be​ ​inserted​ ​into​ ​a​ ​box​ ​that​ ​would​ ​house​ ​the​ ​locking​ ​mechanism.​ ​The​ ​clamp,​ ​shown​ ​in​ ​Figure​ ​2,
would​ ​pinch​ ​the​ ​sides​ ​of​ ​the​ ​nipple​ ​when​ ​activated​ ​and​ ​would​ ​hold​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​until​ ​the​ ​user​ ​comes
back​ ​to​ ​unlock​ ​the​ ​system.
Pros:
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Would​ ​be​ ​secure​ ​and​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​pull​ ​out.​ ​The​ ​clamp​ ​would​ ​be​ ​pinching​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​with​ ​enough
force​ ​that​ ​it​ ​would​ ​be​ ​almost​ ​impossible​ ​to​ ​pull​ ​away​ ​from.
Cons:
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Would​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be​ ​supplied​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​power​ ​to​ ​clamp​ ​with​ ​enough​ ​force.​ ​This​ ​amount​ ​would​ ​be
too​ ​expensive​ ​in​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​energy​ ​and​ ​cost.

Figure​ ​3:​​ ​Zip​ ​Tie​ ​bike​ ​lock​ ​idea

Zip​ ​Tie
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​This​ ​idea​ ​is​ ​directly​ ​taken​ ​from​ ​plastic​ ​zip​ ​ties​ ​that​ ​are​ ​used​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​bundles​ ​of​ ​something
together.​ ​To​ ​transfer​ ​the​ ​idea​ ​to​ ​a​ ​bike​ ​lock​ ​is​ ​explained​ ​as​ ​follows:​ ​the​ ​used​ ​wraps​ ​the​ ​cable
around​ ​their​ ​bike​ ​frame​ ​and​ ​wheel​ ​then​ ​is​ ​placed​ ​back​ ​to​ ​where​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​starts​ ​and​ ​the​ ​user​ ​puts
the​ ​cable​ ​into​ ​something​ ​that​ ​resists​ ​the​ ​motion​ ​of​ ​unlocking.​ ​Then​ ​the​ ​user​ ​pulls​ ​what​ ​cable​ ​is
left​ ​until​ ​he/she​ ​cannot​ ​pull​ ​any​ ​longer.​ ​When​ ​the​ ​user​ ​swipes​ ​their​ ​card​ ​again​ ​the​ ​mechanism
opens​ ​and​ ​the​ ​user​ ​can​ ​easily​ ​take​ ​out​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​and​ ​unwind​ ​it​ ​from​ ​their​ ​bike.
Pros:
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Provides​ ​an​ ​easy​ ​way​ ​to​ ​lock​ ​up​ ​one’s​ ​bike​ ​and​ ​wheel​ ​(for​ ​extra​ ​security).

9
Cons:
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Depending​ ​on​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​thickness,​ ​can​ ​make​ ​the​ ​system​ ​heavy.​ ​Also,​ ​can​ ​be​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​unwind
back​ ​through​ ​their​ ​bike​ ​and​ ​through​ ​the​ ​spokes​ ​of​ ​their​ ​wheel(s).

Figure​ ​4:​​ ​Solenoid​ ​locking​ ​system

Solenoid​ ​Lock
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​In​ ​this​ ​system,​ ​a​ ​solenoid​ ​is​ ​powered​ ​on​ ​when​ ​the​ ​user​ ​swipes​ ​their​ ​card​ ​to​ ​unlock​ ​the​ ​system
because​ ​it​ ​induces​ ​an​ ​electric​ ​current​ ​which​ ​creates​ ​a​ ​magnetic​ ​field​ ​that​ ​pulls​ ​the​ ​other​ ​part​ ​of
the​ ​magnet​ ​toward​ ​itself.​ ​The​ ​user​ ​takes​ ​the​ ​nipple​ ​and​ ​inserts​ ​it​ ​into​ ​a​ ​box​ ​where​ ​the​ ​solenoid​ ​is
in​ ​and​ ​waits​ ​for​ ​it​ ​to​ ​lock.​ ​This​ ​means​ ​that​ ​the​ ​power​ ​to​ ​the​ ​solenoid​ ​is​ ​cut​ ​off​ ​which​ ​stops​ ​the
magnetic​ ​field​ ​that​ ​releases​ ​the​ ​lock​ ​straight​ ​into​ ​the​ ​nipple’s​ ​opening.
Pros:
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Not​ ​much​ ​user​ ​error​ ​can​ ​cause​ ​for​ ​the​ ​system​ ​to​ ​fail.​ ​The​ ​solenoid​ ​only​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​be​ ​powered
on​ ​when​ ​unlocking​ ​the​ ​system.​ ​There​ ​existed​ ​solenoids​ ​at​ ​the​ ​project​ ​depot​ ​that​ ​worked​ ​perfect
for​ ​our​ ​situation.
Cons:
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Solenoid​ ​needs​ ​at​ ​least​ ​18​ ​volts​ ​of​ ​power.
What​ ​was​ ​Chosen
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​solenoid​ ​and​ ​cable​ ​design​ ​was​ ​chosen​ ​in​ ​the​ ​end​ ​due​ ​to​ ​several​ ​reasons.​ ​First,​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of
solenoids​ ​were​ ​provided​ ​to​ ​us​ ​for​ ​free​ ​because​ ​of​ ​our​ ​access​ ​to​ ​the​ ​project​ ​depot.​ ​The​ ​solenoid
that​ ​was​ ​chosen​ ​was​ ​perfect​ ​for​ ​our​ ​design.​ ​Second,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​easier​ ​to​ ​for​ ​our​ ​ideas​ ​on​ ​paper​ ​to​ ​be
made​ ​into​ ​parts​ ​that​ ​we​ ​could​ ​create​ ​and​ ​control.​ ​Third,​ ​the​ ​solenoid​ ​is​ ​connected​ ​in​ ​its​ ​own
circuit​ ​that​ ​can​ ​turn​ ​on​ ​and​ ​off.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​a​ ​simple​ ​circuit​ ​that​ ​does​ ​not​ ​require​ ​any​ ​resistors​ ​for​ ​it​ ​to​ ​do

10
what​ ​we​ ​need​ ​it​ ​to​ ​do.​ ​Also,​ ​arduinos​ ​have​ ​a​ ​relay​ ​that​ ​can​ ​complete​ ​that​ ​circuit​ ​when​ ​we
command​ ​it​ ​to.​ ​We​ ​could​ ​code​ ​the​ ​arduino​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​the​ ​circuit​ ​when​ ​a​ ​card​ ​is​ ​swiped.​ ​After
choosing​ ​this​ ​design,​ ​we​ ​started​ ​building​ ​and​ ​prototyping​ ​as​ ​addressed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​following​ ​sections.

B. ​ ​ ​Description​ ​of​ ​Design

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​To​ ​keep​ ​the​ ​design​ ​user​ ​friendly,​ ​we​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​the​ ​complexity​ ​of​ ​the​ ​project​ ​as​ ​simple​ ​as
possible.​ ​The​ ​process​ ​goes​ ​as​ ​follows:​ ​a​ ​bike​ ​user​ ​walks​ ​up​ ​to​ ​the​ ​rack,​ ​swipes​ ​their​ ​Buff-One
Card​ ​through​ ​the​ ​card​ ​reader,​ ​inserts​ ​their​ ​bike​ ​into​ ​the​ ​row,​ ​inserts​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​into​ ​a​ ​box​ ​that​ ​is
guided​ ​by​ ​a​ ​track,​ ​then​ ​the​ ​lock​ ​closes​ ​and​ ​the​ ​bike​ ​is​ ​now​ ​secure.​ ​Then​ ​the​ ​user​ ​can​ ​walk​ ​away,
do​ ​their​ ​thing,​ ​then​ ​come​ ​back​ ​and​ ​swipe​ ​their​ ​card​ ​that​ ​will​ ​unlock​ ​the​ ​cable,​ ​take​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​out
and​ ​then​ ​ride​ ​away.

Figure​ ​5:​​ ​Card​ ​reader​ ​with​ ​back​ ​taken​ ​off

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Figure​ ​5​ ​shows​ ​a​ ​card​ ​reader,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​where​ ​it​ ​all​ ​begins.​ ​A​ ​card​ ​reader​ ​is​ ​placed​ ​on​ ​the​ ​side
of​ ​a​ ​bike​ ​rack​ ​that​ ​is​ ​connected​ ​to​ ​an​ ​arduino​ ​uno.​ ​The​ ​card​ ​reader​ ​is​ ​powered​ ​through​ ​the
arduino​ ​as​ ​well,​ ​only​ ​needing​ ​5V​ ​of​ ​power.​ ​The​ ​green​ ​led​ ​on​ ​the​ ​card​ ​reader​ ​notifies​ ​us​ ​that​ ​the
card​ ​reader​ ​is​ ​on​ ​and​ ​functioning.

Figure​ ​6:​​ ​Arduino​ ​Uno

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 The​ ​Arduino​ ​shown​ ​in​ ​Figure​ ​6​ ​is​ ​the​ ​brains​ ​of​ ​the​ ​operation.​ ​It​ ​takes​ ​in​ ​the​ ​information
from​ ​the​ ​card​ ​reader​ ​and​ ​converts​ ​it​ ​to​ ​a​ ​string​ ​of​ ​numbers​ ​that​ ​is​ ​manipulated​ ​to​ ​check​ ​if​ ​the
card​ ​is​ ​the​ ​right​ ​format,​ ​being​ ​it​ ​exclusive​ ​to​ ​Buff-one​ ​Cards.​ ​If​ ​such​ ​a​ ​card​ ​was​ ​swiped,​ ​it
switches​ ​the​ ​relay​ ​to​ ​connect​ ​the​ ​circuit​ ​for​ ​the​ ​solenoid.​ ​Three​ ​9V​ ​batteries​ ​are​ ​connected​ ​to​ ​the
solenoid​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​power​ ​the​ ​device.​ ​Initially,​ ​the​ ​solenoid​ ​is​ ​turned​ ​off,​ ​locking​ ​the​ ​cable.
When​ ​the​ ​circuit​ ​is​ ​closed,​ ​the​ ​solenoid​ ​is​ ​powered​ ​on​ ​to​ ​unlock​ ​the​ ​cable.

Figure​ ​7:​​ ​Steel​ ​cable​ ​and​ ​chain​ ​put​ ​together

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​cable​ ​is​ ​made​ ​of​ ​galvanized​ ​steel​ ​which​ ​is​ ​woven​ ​through​ ​a​ ​low​ ​carbon​ ​chain.​ ​This​ ​is
then​ ​covered​ ​by​ ​a​ ​cloth-like​ ​material​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​chipping​ ​the​ ​paint​ ​off​ ​a​ ​bike’s​ ​frame.

C. Summary​ ​of​ ​Parts

a. Where​ ​Parts​ ​Were​ ​Bought
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​To​ ​make​ ​the​ ​Panther​ ​Bike​ ​Lock,​ ​we​ ​used​ ​an​ ​Arduino​ ​Uno,​ ​a​ ​Sparkfun​ ​ProtoShield,​ ​a​ ​single
pole-double​ ​throw​ ​relay,​ ​a​ ​diode,​ ​a​ ​1k​ ​resistor,​ ​a​ ​transistor,​ ​wires,​ ​a​ ​solenoid,​ ​a​ ​serial​ ​port​ ​card
reader,​ ​5/16”​ ​low​ ​carbon​ ​steel​ ​chain,​ ​3/8"​ ​galvanized​ ​steel​ ​cable,​ ​canvas,​ ​9V​ ​batteries,​ ​steel​ ​pipe,
and​ ​wood,​ ​nails,​ ​screws,​ ​and​ ​hinges​ ​for​ ​the​ ​box​ ​that​ ​held​ ​the​ ​project​ ​in.​ ​Table​ ​1​ ​outlines​ ​the​ ​parts
used​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Panther​ ​Bike​ ​Lock.​ ​Purchased​ ​items​ ​include:​ ​Arduino​ ​Uno,​ ​relay,​ ​resistor,​ ​wires,
card​ ​reader,​ ​steel​ ​cable,​ ​steel​ ​chain,​ ​canvas,​ ​ProtoShield,​ ​diode,​ ​transistor,​ ​and​ ​batteries.​ ​The
wood,​ ​nails,​ ​screws,​ ​and​ ​hinges​ ​were​ ​machined​ ​to​ ​make​ ​housing​ ​for​ ​the​ ​circuitry​ ​and​ ​locking
station.​ ​The​ ​steel​ ​pipe​ ​was​ ​also​ ​machined​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​hole​ ​for​ ​the​ ​solenoid​ ​to​ ​latch​ ​into​ ​and​ ​slits​ ​to
connect​ ​the​ ​pipe​ ​to​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​and​ ​chain.​ ​The​ ​solenoid​ ​was​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Project​ ​Depot.​ ​The​ ​most
critical​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​the​ ​design​ ​were​ ​the​ ​solenoid,​ ​so​ ​the​ ​lock​ ​would​ ​lock​ ​and​ ​unlock,​ ​and​ ​the
Arduino,​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​communicate​ ​with​ ​the​ ​solenoid​ ​when​ ​it​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​open​ ​and​ ​close.

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 Table​ ​1​ ​Parts​ ​used​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Panther​ ​Bike​ ​Lock

Arduino​ ​Uno Sparkfun​ ​ProtoShield

single​ ​pole-double​ ​throw​ ​relay diode

1k​ ​resistor transistor

wires solenoid

serial​ ​port​ ​card​ ​reader 5/16”​ ​low​ ​carbon​ ​steel​ ​chain

3/8"​ ​galvanized​ ​steel​ ​cable wood

nails screws

hinges four​ ​9V​ ​batteries

canvas​ ​(cable​ ​cover) steel​ ​pipe

b. Machining
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​machining​ ​process​ ​was​ ​cutting​ ​slits​ ​in​ ​the​ ​side​ ​of​ ​the​ ​steel​ ​pipe​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​connect​ ​the
cable​ ​and​ ​chain​ ​to​ ​the​ ​pipe.​ ​There​ ​was​ ​also​ ​a​ ​slit​ ​cut​ ​in​ ​the​ ​pipe​ ​so​ ​the​ ​solenoid​ ​could​ ​close​ ​and
open​ ​into​ ​and​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​slit​ ​to​ ​lock​ ​the​ ​cable​ ​in​ ​place.​ ​One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​housing​ ​boxes​ ​was​ ​created​ ​by
using​ ​five​ ​pieces​ ​of​ ​wood​ ​and​ ​nailing​ ​them​ ​together​ ​and​ ​then​ ​attaching​ ​a​ ​lid​ ​to​ ​the​ ​box​ ​with
hinges​ ​and​ ​screws​ ​(for​ ​demonstrational​ ​purposes)​ ​to​ ​create​ ​the​ ​box​ ​the​ ​circuitry​ ​could​ ​be​ ​housed
in.​ ​The​ ​other​ ​housing​ ​box​ ​was​ ​created​ ​by​ ​nailing​ ​together​ ​five​ ​pieces​ ​of​ ​wood​ ​and​ ​creating​ ​a
track​ ​that​ ​the​ ​steel​ ​pipe​ ​connected​ ​to​ ​the​ ​chain​ ​and​ ​cable​ ​could​ ​slide​ ​into.​ ​One​ ​side​ ​of​ ​the​ ​second
box​ ​was​ ​left​ ​open​ ​for​ ​demonstrational​ ​purposes.

13
 c. Assembly
​ ​Most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​parts​ ​were​ ​assembled​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​ProtoShield​ ​and​ ​soldered​ ​into​ ​place​ ​on​ ​the​ ​board​ ​and
into​ ​the​ ​serial​ ​ports.​ ​The​ ​cable​ ​and​ ​chain​ ​were​ ​welded​ ​to​ ​the​ ​steel​ ​pipe​ ​to​ ​connect​ ​them​ ​together.
The​ ​housing​ ​boxes​ ​were​ ​assembled​ ​as​ ​described​ ​in​ ​the​ ​machining​ ​section.

Figure​ ​8:​​ ​All​ ​the​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​the​ ​design​ ​before​ ​assembly

d. Cost
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​most​ ​expensive​ ​item​ ​was​ ​the​ ​serial​ ​port​ ​card​ ​reader.​ ​This​ ​card​ ​reader​ ​was​ ​needed​ ​because
the​ ​Arduino​ ​could​ ​read​ ​information​ ​from​ ​the​ ​cards​ ​with​ ​a​ ​serial​ ​port​ ​versus​ ​a​ ​USB​ ​port​ ​card
reader.​ ​The​ ​next​ ​most​ ​expensive​ ​item​ ​was​ ​the​ ​Arduino​ ​board​ ​and​ ​an​ ​Arduino​ ​was​ ​used​ ​because​ ​it
is​ ​relatively​ ​cheap​ ​for​ ​a​ ​circuit​ ​board​ ​and​ ​it​ ​is​ ​easily​ ​programmable.​ ​Many​ ​of​ ​the​ ​materials​ ​used
for​ ​this​ ​project​ ​were​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Project​ ​Depot​ ​or​ ​scraps​ ​from​ ​previous​ ​projects​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the
machine​ ​shop.

Product Price

5/16”​ ​low​ ​carbon​ ​steel​ ​chain $9.95

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 3/8"​ ​galvanized​ ​steel​ ​cable $5.40

Arduino​ ​Uno $19.95

Sparkfun​ ​ProtoShield $10.00

Transistor,​ ​diode,​ ​relay,​ ​resistor,​ ​wires $3.10

Serial​ ​port​ ​card​ ​reader $44.95

Canvas $2.00

​ ​Chapter​ ​III:​ ​Analysis​ ​and​ ​Testing

When​ ​we​ ​started​ ​the​ ​project​ ​we​ ​decided​ ​we​ ​wanted​ ​a​ ​smart​ ​code​ ​that​ ​could​ ​save​ ​card
numbers​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​systematically​ ​dump​ ​card​ ​numbers​ ​under​ ​certain​ ​conditions.​ ​We​ ​took​ ​into
account​ ​how​ ​people​ ​would​ ​need​ ​to​ ​use​ ​the​ ​bike​ ​lock​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​what​ ​could​ ​possibly​ ​go​ ​wrong
when​ ​people​ ​were​ ​using​ ​it.​ ​Originally​ ​we​ ​wanted​ ​a​ ​master​ ​key,​ ​a​ ​timer​ ​for​ ​dumping​ ​code,​ ​and​ ​for
the​ ​lock​ ​to​ ​hold​ ​onto,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​recognize​ ​an​ ​individual’s​ ​card​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​their​ ​bike​ ​locked
up​ ​properly.
As​ ​far​ ​as​ ​testing​ ​the​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​performance​ ​we​ ​were​ ​realistically​ ​able​ ​to​ ​produce,​ ​we
focused​ ​on​ ​what​ ​we​ ​could​ ​and​ ​could​ ​not​ ​do​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Arduino,​ ​and​ ​what​ ​a​ ​realistic​ ​amount​ ​of
coding​ ​was​ ​for​ ​us.​ ​The​ ​chain​ ​and​ ​nipple​ ​components​ ​did​ ​not​ ​need​ ​testing​ ​as​ ​those​ ​pieces​ ​were
the​ ​least​ ​technical,​ ​and​ ​thus​ ​simplest​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​the​ ​project.​ ​The​ ​Solenoid​ ​was​ ​tested​ ​by​ ​simply
giving​ ​it​ ​18​ ​volts​ ​and​ ​making​ ​sure​ ​it​ ​would​ ​magnetize​ ​and​ ​fit​ ​into​ ​chain​ ​lock.​ ​We​ ​used​ ​the
Arduino​ ​to​ ​code​ ​buttons​ ​that​ ​controlled​ ​lights​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​relays​ ​which​ ​gave​ ​us​ ​a​ ​reasonable​ ​idea
about​ ​the​ ​parts​ ​and​ ​code​ ​we​ ​could​ ​work​ ​with​ ​and​ ​familiarized​ ​us​ ​with​ ​the​ ​difficulties​ ​we​ ​might
face​ ​when​ ​using​ ​an​ ​Arduino.​ ​As​ ​the​ ​class​ ​wore​ ​on​ ​testing​ ​became​ ​less​ ​broad​ ​and​ ​more​ ​focused
on​ ​the​ ​code​ ​and​ ​sequences​ ​that​ ​we​ ​decided​ ​were​ ​realistic.​ ​Testing​ ​became​ ​checking​ ​if​ ​the​ ​relay
was​ ​working​ ​by​ ​listening​ ​for​ ​its​ ​click​ ​and​ ​checking​ ​if​ ​the​ ​Solenoid​ ​was​ ​magnetizing.​ ​If​ ​either​ ​of
these​ ​failed​ ​we​ ​reworked​ ​the​ ​parts​ ​and​ ​tested​ ​again​ ​until​ ​both​ ​pieces​ ​worked​ ​in​ ​unison.

15
 What​ ​we​ ​found​ ​with​ ​the​ ​testing​ ​in​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​was​ ​that​ ​we​ ​were​ ​not​ ​familiar​ ​enough
with​ ​Arduino​ ​to​ ​code​ ​the​ ​complex​ ​sequences​ ​we​ ​had​ ​originally​ ​predicted​ ​we​ ​would​ ​need.​ ​The
coding​ ​we​ ​did​ ​with​ ​buttons,​ ​lights,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​relay​ ​allowed​ ​us​ ​to​ ​gage​ ​the​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​coding​ ​that​ ​we
could​ ​do​ ​in​ ​a​ ​short​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​time​ ​and​ ​even​ ​gave​ ​us​ ​knowledge​ ​that​ ​using​ ​a​ ​light​ ​sensor​ ​to
activate​ ​the​ ​switch​ ​was​ ​an​ ​easy​ ​way​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​demo​ ​for​ ​the​ ​expo​ ​if​ ​we​ ​could​ ​not​ ​work​ ​with​ ​the
card​ ​readers.​ ​Eventually,​ ​we​ ​found​ ​that​ ​USB​ ​card​ ​readers​ ​are​ ​incredibly​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​pull
information​ ​from​ ​and​ ​as​ ​we​ ​proceeded​ ​we​ ​focused​ ​mainly​ ​on​ ​how​ ​the​ ​relay​ ​worked​ ​with​ ​the
Solenoid​ ​circuit.​ ​Testing​ ​the​ ​simpler​ ​sequences​ ​made​ ​it​ ​so​ ​that​ ​we​ ​were​ ​simply​ ​testing​ ​whether
or​ ​not​ ​it​ ​worked.
When​ ​it​ ​did​ ​not​ ​work​ ​we​ ​looked​ ​at​ ​the​ ​components​ ​and​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​pinpoint​ ​what​ ​was
causing​ ​it​ ​to​ ​fail​ ​or​ ​we​ ​went​ ​to​ ​seek​ ​help​ ​until​ ​it​ ​finally​ ​did​ ​work.​ ​The​ ​iterations​ ​we​ ​did​ ​were
heavily​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​the​ ​relay​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Arduino.​ ​The​ ​code​ ​and​ ​the​ ​circuitry​ ​had​ ​to​ ​be​ ​modified​ ​in
order​ ​for​ ​the​ ​relay​ ​to​ ​work​ ​properly​ ​and​ ​testing​ ​this​ ​component​ ​even​ ​cause​ ​a​ ​fair​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​relay
deaths.​ ​Once​ ​we​ ​had​ ​the​ ​relay​ ​and​ ​Solenoid​ ​working​ ​we​ ​turned​ ​to​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​of​ ​the​ ​swiper​ ​and
found​ ​that​ ​the​ ​USB​ ​card​ ​readers​ ​that​ ​we​ ​were​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​code​ ​were​ ​not​ ​depositing​ ​the​ ​right
information​ ​into​ ​the​ ​Arduino,​ ​so​ ​we​ ​replaced​ ​the​ ​USB​ ​card​ ​swiper​ ​with​ ​a​ ​serial​ ​port​ ​card​ ​reader.
Once​ ​we​ ​introduced​ ​the​ ​new​ ​reader​ ​and​ ​recoded​ ​the​ ​Arduino,​ ​we​ ​checked​ ​the​ ​system​ ​by
swiping​ ​BuffOne​ ​cards​ ​and​ ​verifying​ ​that​ ​it​ ​would​ ​work​ ​reliably.​ ​When​ ​the​ ​components​ ​finally
worked​ ​in​ ​unison​ ​and​ ​there​ ​didn’t​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​be​ ​any​ ​failure​ ​within​ ​the​ ​code​ ​or​ ​the​ ​breadboard​ ​we
had​ ​to​ ​validate​ ​that​ ​the​ ​wiring​ ​could​ ​withstand​ ​the​ ​stress​ ​of​ ​installing​ ​it​ ​onto​ ​a​ ​demo​ ​bike​ ​rack.
Getting​ ​it​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​rack​ ​and​ ​conducting​ ​the​ ​final​ ​tests​ ​to​ ​see​ ​if​ ​it​ ​continued​ ​to​ ​lock​ ​properly​ ​when
it​ ​was​ ​oriented​ ​properly​ ​showed​ ​that​ ​the​ ​system​ ​was​ ​functioning​ ​and​ ​the​ ​iterations​ ​or
modifications​ ​we​ ​made​ ​were​ ​successful.

Chapter​ ​IV:​ ​User’s​ ​Operating​ ​Instructions

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​To​ ​prevent​ ​any​ ​confusion,​ ​an​ ​instruction​ ​panel​ ​will​ ​be​ ​provided​ ​near​ ​the​ ​bike​ ​lock​ ​ ​to​ ​show
the​ ​user​ ​how​ ​to​ ​swipe​ ​their​ ​card​ ​and​ ​lock​ ​their​ ​bike.​ ​First,​ ​the​ ​user​ ​swipes​ ​their​ ​card​ ​and​ ​if​ ​it​ ​is
the​ ​appropriate​ ​card,​ ​then​ ​the​ ​bike​ ​will​ ​unlock​ ​and​ ​the​ ​light​ ​on​ ​the​ ​card​ ​swiper​ ​will​ ​turn​ ​green.

16
Then​ ​the​ ​user​ ​has​ ​a​ ​limited​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​time​ ​to​ ​insert​ ​the​ ​bike​ ​lock​ ​into​ ​the​ ​lock.​ ​When​ ​the​ ​time​ ​is
up​ ​the​ ​system​ ​will​ ​beep​ ​and​ ​the​ ​light​ ​will​ ​turn​ ​red.​ ​Instructions​ ​are​ ​shown​ ​in​ ​Figure​ ​9.

Figure​ ​9:​​ ​Panel​ ​that​ ​demonstrates​ ​the​ ​steps​ ​to​ ​take​ ​to​ ​swipe​ ​and​ ​lock

Chapter​ ​V:​ ​Team​ ​Performance

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​We​ ​thought​ ​that​ ​we​ ​were​ ​a​ ​pretty​ ​strong​ ​team.​ ​We​ ​had​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​plan​ ​on​ ​what​ ​to​ ​do​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the
deadlines.​ ​Individual​ ​team​ ​members​ ​did​ ​the​ ​best​ ​to​ ​build​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​team​ ​by​ ​doing​ ​the​ ​best​ ​they
could​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​project.​ ​Each​ ​member​ ​had​ ​particular​ ​roles​ ​to​ ​perform​ ​and​ ​we​ ​had​ ​weekly
meetings​ ​to​ ​track​ ​what​ ​progress​ ​our​ ​individual​ ​team​ ​members​ ​had​ ​made.​ ​All​ ​of​ ​our​ ​members
attended​ ​the​ ​meetings​ ​without​ ​any​ ​conflicts.​ ​We​ ​made​ ​clear​ ​plans​ ​on​ ​what​ ​each​ ​member​ ​should
work​ ​on​ ​to​ ​make​ ​our​ ​bike​ ​lock​ ​better​ ​and​ ​working.​ ​The​ ​project​ ​was​ ​well-managed​ ​using​ ​the​ ​team
design​ ​journal​ ​and​ ​our​ ​duties​ ​were​ ​divided​ ​well​ ​by​ ​our​ ​team​ ​members.​ ​We​ ​thought​ ​of​ ​everything
that​ ​each​ ​individual​ ​team​ ​members​ ​could​ ​be​ ​in​ ​charge​ ​of.​ ​We​ ​had​ ​everyone​ ​working​ ​on​ ​what
they​ ​were​ ​assigned.​ ​For​ ​the​ ​purchases,​ ​we​ ​had​ ​people​ ​who​ ​had​ ​money​ ​to​ ​purchase​ ​our
components​ ​at​ ​the​ ​time​ ​and​ ​then​ ​we​ ​separated​ ​the​ ​cost​ ​evenly​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​project.

17
Chapter​ ​VI:​ ​Conclusions
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​We​ ​accomplished​ ​many​ ​different​ ​things​ ​for​ ​our​ ​project.​ ​The​ ​core​ ​objective​ ​of​ ​our​ ​project​ ​was
to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​lock​ ​that​ ​reads​ ​student’s​ ​buffone​ ​card.​ ​We​ ​got​ ​our​ ​solenoid​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with​ ​arduino​ ​and
card​ ​reader.​ ​We​ ​got​ ​the​ ​card​ ​reader​ ​to​ ​read​ ​information​ ​from​ ​the​ ​cards​ ​through​ ​the​ ​serial​ ​port.
We​ ​also​ ​made​ ​our​ ​circuit​ ​with​ ​a​ ​relay​ ​to​ ​make​ ​solenoid​ ​to​ ​be​ ​our​ ​locking​ ​mechanism.​ ​When​ ​the
solenoid​ ​is​ ​in​ ​lock​ ​position,​ ​solenoid​ ​will​ ​be​ ​off​ ​because​ ​the​ ​circuit​ ​and​ ​relay​ ​are​ ​off.​ ​If​ ​solenoid
is​ ​on​ ​for​ ​a​ ​long​ ​time,​ ​it​ ​gets​ ​very​ ​hot.​ ​It​ ​would​ ​have​ ​burnt​ ​our​ ​batteries​ ​rapidly​ ​if​ ​we​ ​didn’t​ ​do​ ​it
this​ ​way.​ ​We​ ​had​ ​some​ ​battery​ ​issues​ ​during​ ​the​ ​expo.​ ​The​ ​project​ ​was​ ​successfully​ ​presented​ ​to
the​ ​judges,​ ​but​ ​during​ ​presentation​ ​to​ ​the​ ​public,​ ​our​ ​solenoid​ ​stopped​ ​working​ ​few​ ​times.​ ​We
thought​ ​there​ ​was​ ​a​ ​problem​ ​with​ ​batteries,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​simply​ ​got​ ​fixed​ ​by​ ​pressing​ ​the​ ​reset​ ​button​ ​on
the​ ​arduino.​ ​Other​ ​than​ ​that,​ ​we​ ​had​ ​a​ ​great​ ​time​ ​presenting​ ​our​ ​Panthers​ ​Bike​ ​Lock.​ ​Our​ ​team
worked​ ​really​ ​well​ ​with​ ​each​ ​other.

Chapter​ ​VII:​ ​Recommendations

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Our​ ​Panthers​ ​Bike​ ​Lock​ ​will​ ​be​ ​only​ ​for​ ​the​ ​people​ ​with​ ​buff-one​ ​cards​ ​currently.​ ​Our
limitation​ ​was​ ​that​ ​only​ ​CU​ ​boulder​ ​students​ ​can​ ​use​ ​the​ ​lock.​ ​Any​ ​visitors​ ​or​ ​teacher​ ​wouldn’t
be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​use​ ​our​ ​locks.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​recommend​ ​to​ ​implement​ ​the​ ​design​ ​and​ ​idea​ ​into​ ​a​ ​more
public​ ​setting​ ​where​ ​people​ ​can​ ​use​ ​their​ ​credit​ ​or​ ​debit​ ​cards.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​be​ ​charged​ ​per​ ​hour,
ideally.​ ​Also,​ ​add​ ​multiple​ ​stations​ ​to​ ​each​ ​rack​ ​and​ ​integrate​ ​a​ ​num-pad​ ​for​ ​the​ ​use​ ​to​ ​choose
which​ ​row​ ​their​ ​bike​ ​will​ ​be​ ​in.​ ​Also,​ ​we​ ​would​ ​have​ ​to​ ​implement​ ​a​ ​central​ ​power​ ​station
instead​ ​of​ ​three​ ​9​ ​volt​ ​batteries.​ ​We​ ​can​ ​also​ ​install​ ​solar​ ​panel​ ​to​ ​power​ ​up​ ​all​ ​the​ ​buff-one​ ​bike
locks​ ​in​ ​the​ ​station.

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 Works​ ​Cited

Award​ ​Database.​ ​(n.d.).​ ​Retrieved​ ​November​ ​5,​ ​2015,​ ​from

http://www.bikeleague.org/bfa/awards

Berg,​ ​N.​ ​(2012,​ ​January​ ​26).​ ​Creating​ ​‘The​ ​Most​ ​Bicycle​ ​Friendly​ ​City​ ​in​ ​America’​ ​...​ ​In
Southern​ ​California.​ ​Retrieved​ ​November​ ​5,​ ​2015.

Carbon​ ​Cycle​ ​Science.​ ​(n.d.).​ ​Retrieved​ ​November​ ​5,​ ​2015,​ ​from

http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/research/themes/carbon/

Fisher,​ ​M.​ ​(2012,​ ​August​ ​14).​ ​It's​ ​Official:​ ​Western​ ​Europeans​ ​Have​ ​More​ ​Cars​ ​Per​ ​Person​ ​Than
Americans.​ ​Retrieved​ ​November​ ​5,​ ​2015.

Greenhouse​ ​Gas​ ​Emissions.​ ​(2014,​ ​May​ ​1).​ ​Retrieved​ ​November​ ​5,​ ​2015,​ ​from
http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/climate/documents/420f14040a.pdf

Making​ ​The​ ​Economic​ ​Case​ ​For​ ​Cycling-Friendly​ ​Cities​ ​With​ ​Bikeonomics.​ ​(2013,​ ​November
15).​ ​Retrieved​ ​November​ ​5,​ ​2015.

National​ ​Transportation​ ​Statistics.​ ​(2015,​ ​October​ ​1).​ ​Retrieved​ ​November​ ​5,​ ​2015.

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