Arduino Project
RFID Access3.0
Course Introduction
In this lesson, we’ll build a 3.0 access-control system using the MFRC522 module, a 1602 LCD, a digital servo motor, and an active buzzer.
Note
If this is your first time working with an Arduino project, we recommend downloading and reviewing the basic materials first.
1.1 Install Arduino IDE(Important)
1.2 Introduction of Arduino IDE
Required Components
In this project, we need the following components:
Wiring

Common Connections:
MFRC522 Module
SDA: Connect to 6 on the Arduino.
SCK: Connect to 5 on the Arduino.
MOSI: Connect to 4 on the Arduino.
MISO: Connect to 3 on the Arduino.
GND: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
RST: Connect to 2 on the Arduino.
3.3V: Connect to breadboard’s passive power bus.
Active Buzzer
+: Connect to 10 on the Arduino.
-: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
I2C LCD 1602
SDA: Connect to A4 on the Arduino.
SCL: Connect to A5 on the Arduino.
GND: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
VCC: Connect to breadboard’s red power bus.
Digital Servo Motor
Connect to breadboard’s positive power bus.
Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
Connect to 11 on the Arduino.
Writing the Code
Note
You can copy this code into Arduino IDE.
To install the library, use the Arduino Library Manager and search for LiquidCrystal I2C and install it.
The RFID1 library is used here. You can click here RFID1.zip to download it.
Don’t forget to select the board(Arduino UNO R4 WIFI) and the correct port before clicking the Upload button.
#include // MFRC522 RFID library
#include // I2C communication library
#include // I2C LCD library
#include // Servo motor library
#define ID_LEN 4 // Length of the RFID UID in bytes
// ———— Global objects & pins ————
RFID1 rfid; // RFID reader object
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2); // LCD at I2C address 0x27, 16×2 chars
Servo myServo; // Servo motor object
const int buzPin = 10; // Buzzer output pin
const int servoPin = 11; // Servo control pin
// Authorized card UID (change to your card’s UID)
uchar userId[ID_LEN] = { 0x36, 0xE2, 0xC4, 0xF7 };
// Buffer to store the UID read from a card
uchar userIdRead[ID_LEN];
// ———— Setup runs once ————
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600); // Start serial monitor for debugging
// Initialize RFID reader (SS, RST, MISO, MOSI, SCK, IRQ)
rfid.begin(7, 5, 4, 3, 6, 2);
rfid.init(); // Power up and reset RFID module
pinMode(buzPin, OUTPUT); // Configure buzzer pin as output
// Attach servo and move it to 90° (door closed)
myServo.attach(servoPin);
myServo.write(90);
delay(500); // Wait for servo to reach position
lcd.init(); // Initialize the LCD
lcd.backlight(); // Turn on LCD backlight
showWelcome(); // Display the welcome screen
}
// ———— Main loop repeats forever ————
void loop() {
uchar status, str[MAX_LEN];
// Ask RFID module if a card is in range
status = rfid.request(PICC_REQIDL, str);
if (status == MI_OK) {
getId(); // Read the card’s UID into buffer
scanningAnimation(); // Show “Scanning……” with dots
// Check if the read UID matches authorized UID
if (idVerify()) {
handleSuccess(); // If match, open door
} else {
handleFailure(); // If no match, show error
}
delay(500); // Short pause before resetting screen
showWelcome(); // Return to welcome message
// Clear the UID buffer for next read
for (int i = 0; i < ID_LEN; i++) {
userIdRead[i] = 0;
}
}
}
// ———— Display initial welcome screen ————
void showWelcome() {
lcd.clear();
lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
lcd.print("Welcome!"); // Top line
lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
lcd.print("Place your card"); // Bottom line
}
// ———— Show scanning animation ————
void scanningAnimation() {
lcd.clear();
lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
lcd.print("Scanning"); // Print text
// Add six dots one by one
for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
lcd.print(".");
delay(500); // Wait half a second per dot
}
}
// ———— Read UID from the card ————
void getId() {
uchar status, str[MAX_LEN];
status = rfid.anticoll(str); // Anti-collision to get full UID
if (status == MI_OK) {
Serial.print("Card ID: ");
// Copy each byte into our buffer and print it for debug
for (int i = 0; i < ID_LEN; i++) {
userIdRead[i] = str[i];
Serial.print("0x");
Serial.print(str[i], HEX);
Serial.print(" ");
}
Serial.println();
rfid.halt(); // Halt further readings until next loop
}
}
// ———— Compare read UID with authorized UID ————
bool idVerify() {
for (int i = 0; i < ID_LEN; i++) {
if (userIdRead[i] != userId[i]) {
verifyPrint(false); // Mismatch: indicate failure
return false;
}
}
verifyPrint(true); // Match: indicate success
return true;
}
// ———— Sound buzzer for pass/fail feedback ————
void verifyPrint(bool result) {
if (result) {
beep(100, 3); // Three short beeps for success
delay(400); // Pause before next action
} else {
beep(500, 1); // One long beep for error
delay(400);
}
}
// duration: length of one beep in ms; frequency: number of beeps
void beep(int duration, int frequency) {
for (int i = 0; i < frequency; i++) {
tone(buzPin, 1000); // Play 1 kHz tone
delay(duration); // Keep tone on
noTone(buzPin); // Stop tone
delay(100); // Short gap between beeps
}
}
// ———— Actions when card is valid ————
void handleSuccess() {
lcd.clear();
lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
lcd.print("Card success!");
lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
lcd.print("Welcome home");
delay(500); // Let user read the message
myServo.write(0); // Move servo to 0° (open door)
delay(2000); // Door stays open for 2 seconds
myServo.write(90); // Return servo to 90° (close door)
}
// ———— Actions when card is invalid ————
void handleFailure() {
lcd.clear();
lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
lcd.print("Card error!"); // Show error message
delay(1000); // Pause so user sees the error
}
