Smart locks are just the beginning. Physical access control doesn’t need to be one-size-fits-all. Whether you're securing a locker, server room, or office entryway, Viam’s modular platform makes it easy to automate and customize access using open-source tools.
Here are five practical ways to build smarter access control systems with Viam:
1. Facial recognition with a webcam
Enable contactless access to shared spaces using computer vision and facial recognition. This solution is ideal for doors, shared equipment lockers, or conference rooms.
💡 Try it yourself: Face identification for access control with Raspberry Pi and Camera
2. Fingerprint sensor with servo
Use a biometric fingerprint reader paired with a servo-powered latch to control access to a physical container, drawer, or even a garage door. This method provides secure, local-only control without needing an internet connection.
💡 Try it yourself: Enable physical access using a fingerprint sensor
3. Smart lock control via serial commands
Looking for a way to integrate with off-the-shelf smart locks? This approach uses a Viam module to send serial commands from Android devices to relays like the Numato USB relay, making it easy to retrofit existing systems. You can also use Viam’s vision service to trigger unlock actions on a Yale Lock when specific conditions are met, such as recognizing a face or detecting motion near the door.
4. Track lock status with an infrared sensor
Want to know if your door is locked or unlocked without having to manually check? An IR sensor can detect physical movement or state changes in a door lock mechanism and report back to the Viam platform. Once connected, you can monitor it from the Viam web app, mobile app (iOS or Android), or build your own dashboard using one of Viam’s SDKs.
💡 Try it yourself: Detect door lock status with an infrared sensor
5. Person detection in Home Assistant
Already using Home Assistant? Extend your smart home setup with Viam’s person detection feature to trigger automations, like unlocking a smart lock when a person is detected, or sending an alert if someone lingers near your door.
💡 Try it yourself: Set up people detection notifications in Home Assistant
Customize and extend your projects
With Viam, you can mix and match components. For example, swap out a fingerprint sensor for a webcam, change a relay for a smart plug, or build your own modules for custom behaviors. All examples are based on real-world codelabs that you can start building from today. And you can browse other modules in the Viam registry for more ideas.
Want to build your own access control solution or integrate Viam into your existing setup? Request a demo, or join our Discord to chat with our team and community of builders.
