Multi functional locker system

 Week 3: Data Storage and Hardware Connections This week was all about troubleshooting . We spent a lot of time trying to get the LCD and keypad working properly since they are crucial to our system. The LCD, in particular, gave us a hard time—at first, nothing showed up on the screen, and even after some adjustments, the display remained unstable. We also worked on hardware integration, ensuring all components were properly connected. Some challenges included: Identifying and fixing incorrect wiring between the ESP32 and LCD. Ensuring the motor control wiring was correctly set up (though we still had issues getting it to rotate as expected). Finding a stable way to power all components without fluctuations. By the end of the week, we had partially functional LCD and keypad input , but the motor was still not responding correctly , and fingerprint authentication hadn't been implemented yet. Next week, we hope to finalize our testing and troubleshoot the remaining issues.  

Week 1: Progress and Challenges in Circuit Design & Development This week, we focused on refining our circuit design and getting the basics in place. Our goal was to ensure all connections were stable and that the ESP32 could handle our planned functionalities. We spent time studying different circuit configurations, testing power requirements, and designing basic circuit protection to prevent failures. One major challenge we faced was that the ESP32 board we initially chose didn’t fully meet our needs —some weld points were too small, making it difficult to attach wires properly. By the end of the week, we had outlined potential solutions, including sourcing a different ESP32 board or modifying our design to accommodate the current one. Next week, we plan to finalize our circuit connections and start integrating key components like the LCD and keypad .

Week 2: Testing and Improving My Circuit After struggling with the ESP32 board in Week 1, we decided to purchase a new one along with additional compatible components (LCD, keypad) to improve system performance. Once the components arrived, we focused on testing them and ensuring they worked as expected. Our key tasks this week included: Checking compatibility between new components and the ESP32. Redrawing the circuit diagram to reflect the updated design. Measuring voltage levels across different components to ensure stable operation. Writing basic test code to check LCD and keypad functionality. Unfortunately, we ran into power issues , with the main power source providing lower voltage than expected . Additionally, some test code didn't work as intended, and the LCD failed to display anything. Debugging these issues will be a priority for next week.

Week 4: Finalising Connections and Testing With the deadline approaching, we focused on making the system as functional as possible for the bench inspection. While fingerprint authentication was planned , we were unable to fully integrate it in time due to software and connection issues. Instead, we prioritized making the keypad-based authentication reliable and ensuring that the system responded correctly to valid/invalid PIN inputs. Tasks this week included: Finalizing LCD display outputs for different system states (Access Granted, Access Denied). Attempting to fix motor control issues (still unsuccessful, but explored alternative solutions). Preparing for the bench inspection presentation , including testing what works and identifying limitations to discuss. Although we didn’t achieve full functionality, we learned a lot from the process. The keypad and LCD system work as expected, but the motor still doesn’t function properly, and fingerprint authentication remains unfinished ...