So I've been trying to work on this idea of mine for a Third Year mini project which is basically to create a small scale security system as an addition to an already present security system on a safe or a locker. I've attached the basic description and block diagram where I've tried to explain as much as I can about what I actually want to achieve. Now I'm a complete amateur and I need help in writing the code, interfacing the components to the Arduino and simulation. Any help would be appreciated... Thanks!

 

Some questions: how do you disarm the alarm? What prevents the thief from disarming it. Why do you need more than a door switch to detect a breach? Are you required to use the GSM module? If not, why not use a wireless network to simplify things?

 

Some questions: how do you disarm the alarm? What prevents the thief from disarming it. Why do you need more than a door switch to detect a breach? Are you required to use the GSM module? If not, why not use a wireless network to simplify things?

We need more than door switch because what if the owner is around (as in he's not far away from the safe...let's say like a party or something) and he just needs to know if the safe is being opened without triggering an alarm. What is the safe is being opened by someone the owner knows...like a family member and he just wants to know when it is opened. So that's why we thought it would be useful to add 2 modes. (And also because otherwise the project would've too simple lol )
For disarming the alarm, I hadn't really thought about it...but for demonstration, can't the Arduino cut off the alarm after a delay? Otherwise we can add a button to disarm the buzzer. Now we are planning to hide the circuit well...lets say...behind the safe...or in a seperate compartment altogether. This is just my thinking...feel free to correct me!
And no... we're not required to use a GSM module but in India most people aren't always connected to the internet to receive an email...so we thought it was best to use a GSM module.

 

We need more than door switch because what if the owner is around (as in he's not far away from the safe...let's say like a party or something) and he just needs to know if the safe is being opened without triggering an alarm. What is the safe is being opened by someone the owner knows...like a family member and he just wants to know when it is opened. So that's why we thought it would be useful to add 2 modes. (And also because otherwise the project would've too simple lol )
For disarming the alarm, I hadn't really thought about it...but for demonstration, can't the Arduino cut off the alarm after a delay? Otherwise we can add a button to disarm the buzzer. Now we are planning to hide the circuit well...lets say...behind the safe...or in a seperate compartment altogether. This is just my thinking...feel free to correct me!
And no... we're not required to use a GSM module but in India most people aren't always connected to the internet to receive an email...so we thought it was best to use a GSM module.

OK, so you want tamper indication, not just open. If you don't care about actual security I guess it doesn't matter that the arming/disarming is exposed but it's not much of an alarm system if I can just push a button to disable it.

I would start by deciding on exactly which sensors you want to use. Narrow down what you are going to work with. Then make sure you have libraries available for them, and test them so you know how to work with them. Do the same with the GSM module.

Once you have all that information, you can put it together in the program. But there is a fair amount of work to get a handle on the sensors and actuators (in this case, the GSM) so you can be sure they work as expected. Next steps will be physical attachment of the sensors to ensure they do what you expect in place. Then you can write the simple program you will need to put them all together.

 

OK, so you want tamper indication, not just open. If you don't care about actual security I guess it doesn't matter that the arming/disarming is exposed but it's not much of an alarm system if I can just push a button to disable it.

I would start by deciding on exactly which sensors you want to use. Narrow down what you are going to work with. Then make sure you have libraries available for them, and test them so you know how to work with them. Do the same with the GSM module.

Once you have all that information, you can put it together in the program. But there is a fair amount of work to get a handle on the sensors and actuators (in this case, the GSM) so you can be sure they work as expected. Next steps will be physical attachment of the sensors to ensure they do what you expect in place. Then you can write the simple program you will need to put them all together.

Right then...I'll get on it...thanks for your help!