Final Report

Fingerprint Scanner Quick-Access Gun Safe

Chris Bettencourt Skyler Perry

351 W University Blvd: Engineering & Technology 351 W University Blvd: Engineering & Technology
Southern Utah University Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT 84720 Cedar City, UT 84720
chrisbett2010@gmail.com skyguyper@gmail.com

Qiaoyu Chen
351 W University Blvd: Engineering & Technology
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT 84720
qiaoyuchen1997@gmail.com

​ This paper demonstrates the level of understanding

Abstract— Solenoid Lock $9 Lock
from an Electronics course through a practical project. This was
done by using Arduino, LEDs and implementing a transistor as a S8050 Transistor NA Datasheet
switch in a biometric handgun security system. By putting these
electronic components together, it makes a functional prototype, Wires NA NA
we gain a tremendous amount of knowledge on electronic. Firearm Housing NA NA
Keywords—Fingerprint scanner; Arduino; Gun Safety; Electronics
project; 3D- Printing; Firearm The setup of the electronic components is shown in Figure
1 below.
I. I​NTRODUCTION Figure I. Electronics Schematic.
This project was designed to keep handguns secure from
children and unauthorized users while at the same time
allowing for quick-access capabilities in case of intruders or
armed robbery.
II. E​LECTRONIC​ ​COMPONENTS​ ​OVERVIEW
The gun safe is made up of several components. First, a
cylindrical solenoid lock is used to hold the handgun in place
inside the trigger guard of the firearm. This is run by a 9 volt
power supply that is activated when the transistor is switched
on. Second, a fingerprint scanner will allow authorized users
access while denying any other attempts. Third, an arduino
uno is used to collect the input data from the fingerprint
scanner and detect whether or not the user is authorized.
Fourth, a transistor is used as a switch to allow for the
solenoid lock to open when the signal from the arduino is sent
after it detects a matching fingerprint to the authorized users.
The following is a chart of the materials and cost of the This shows the solenoid attached to the power supply and
system and links will also be posted in the sources: the transistor which will act as a switch when the signal from
the arduino is activated. To view more closely see Appendix.
TABLE I. Materials List and Cost.
III. O​BSTACLES
Item Cost Link
A. Getting the code to activate the correct pins
Fingerprint Scanner $20 Fingerprint
The problem we were having was getting the pins of the
Arduino Uno $10 Arduino Arduino to activate and provide power so that the transistor
would turn on and allow the outside power supply to activate (CBJ) is also in a forward bias. This means that the transistor
the solenoid lock. is acting as a switch to allow current from the outside power
B. Insufficient Power From the Arduino to Open the Lock. supply to flow through the solenoid which will unlock the gun.
This problem was the first one to be addressed, because at
the start of this project the question was why can’t the arduino Figure 3. Prototype.
just power everything. The reason for that is the arduino only
has so much power coming into it, this creates a problem
when trying to power anything that requires more than 5
volts, because the arduino can only supply 5 volts. The
solution to this was to get a transistor that can turn on with 5
volts and this would activate a switch that allow an outside
power supply provide the adequate amount of voltage to the
solenoid lock.
C. Transistor Turn-on Voltage.
When starting this project we had the basic plan of how to
get this system to work, but when we first attempted it we
used an alternate transistor from the recommended. It turned
out that the transistors had different turn on voltages. This
became a problem because the Arduino can only supply 5 VI. C​ONCLUSION
volts of power and the transistor required 6 volts. After
This project succeeded in helping students to apply
searching we found a transistor that would work with our
theory to actual real-life situations. It was helpful in problem
Arduino that only supplied 5 volts.
solving, trouble-shooting circuits, and programming codes.
The project also allowed for students to have more experience
Figure 2. Cad Drawing of Quick-Access Gun Safe. with programming microcontrollers. Overall, the project was a
great hands-on learning experience.
R​EFERENCES

[1] Fingerprint Scanner Link to Purchase.

[2]
[3]
IV. B​UILDING​ ​AND​ D​EMONSTRATION
The 3D printed gun and holster were made using PLA [4]
plastic on a Creality Ender 3. The housing includes a slot for a
Colt 1911, which is a popular type of handgun, a cutout for the [5]
solenoid, an opening for the fingerprint scanner and LED, and
[6]
a rectangular cutout to house the arduino and wires. There
were also screw holes for mounting the housing to a bed or
desk using any type of ¼ inch fasteners. [7]
V. T​RANSISTOR​ ​AS​ ​A​ S​WITCH
[8]
To utilize the transistor as a switch, the base terminal was
attached to the positive voltage source of the arduino with the [9]
emitter base junction in a forward bias. This means that the
BJT is in saturation mode and the collector base junction
https://www.amazon.com/Optical-Fingerprint-Control-Mega2560-Geeks
tory/dp/B07BQ9VNWR
Arduino Uno Link to Purchase.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2019-ARDUINO-UNO-R3-Compatible-Boar
d-With-Genuine-Atmel-ATmega328P-ATmega16U2/391879687496?ha
sh=item5b3dd97d48:g:7-AAAOSwCAVdcJ8X:sc:USPSFirstClass!8472
0!US!-1
Solenoid Lock link to Purchase.
https://alexnld.com/product/12v-dc-0-43a-mini-electric-bolt-lock-push-p
ull-cylindrical-solenoid-lock-5mm-stroke/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwz8bsBRC6
ARIsAEyNnvr7pLQYfd0BdtNSVitCbs2oLvE78TPtytWiPdIjTgvXgf6T
iAcNNgIaAtVxEALw_wcB
Fingerprint Scanner Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1diFaa5OsFg
Electronic lock demonstration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmj_qAbyeM
2N3904 Transistor Data Sheet
https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2017/jun/simply-put-2n39
04-npn-transistor
TIP 122 Transistor Data Sheet
https://components101.com/tip122-pinout-equivalent-datasheet
S8050 Transistor Data Sheet
http://media.nkcelectronics.com/datasheet/s8050.pdf
Tinkercad Circuit Schematic Online Software
https://www.tinkercad.com/circuits
APPENDIX

A. Electronics Schematic.

B. BJT S8050 Terminal Diagram.

C. Arduino Code part 1.
D. Arduino Code Part 2.
E. Arduino Code Part 3.
F. Arduino Code Part 4.