RFID and SmartThings How-To

In this post I will provide step by step instructions to turn on a light, switch or any device with an RFID reader and SmartThings.

I will try to make it as simple as I can but please leave a comment if think that anything needs clarification.

On the Arduino side:

Connect the Arduino and the SmartThings Arduino Shield
Connect the SL030 RFID:
- A4/SDA to Pin 3 on the RFID board
- A5/SCL to Pin 4 on the RFID board
- GND to Pin 6 on the RFID board
- 3V3 to Pin 1 on the RFID board
Flash the following code to the Arduino

Note: It requires SmartThings’ Arduino Library and the RFID Reader Library

You can download the SmartThings Arduino Library here

You can download the RFID Reader Library here

For more information about installing Arduino libraries see http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/Libraries

/**
 *  Arduino to SL030 wiring:
 *  A4/SDA     3
 *  A5/SCL     4
 *  5V         -
 *  GND        6
 *  3V3        1
 */

#include <Wire.h>
#include <SL018.h>
#include <SmartThingsL.h>

#define PIN_THING_RX    3
#define PIN_THING_TX    2

SmartThingsCallout_t messageCallout;    // call out function forward decalaration
SmartThings smartthing(PIN_THING_RX, PIN_THING_TX, messageCallout);  // constructor
SL018 rfid;

void setup()
{
  Wire.begin();
  Serial.begin(2400);         // setup serial with a baud rate of 9600  
  while (!Serial); //for the leonardo

  // prompt for tag
  Serial.println("Waiting...");
}

void loop()
{
  // start seek mode
  rfid.seekTag();
  // wait until tag detected
  while(!rfid.available());
  //Serial.print("ID: ");
  //Serial.println(rfid.getTagString());
  delay(1000);   
  smartthing.send(rfid.getTagString());
}

void messageCallout(String message)
{

}

Now on SmartThings:

Log in to SmartThings IDE
Go to “My Device Type” and click on “+New SmartDevice”

In the following page click on tab “From code” and paste the code below

/**
 *  RFID Reader
 *
 *  Author: juano23@gmail.com
 *  Date: 2013-09-06
 */
 // for the UI
metadata {
    // Automatically generated. Make future change here.
	definition (name: "RFID Reader", author: "juano23@gmail.com") {
		capability "Refresh"

		attribute "RFID", "string"
		attribute "VISUALID", "string"
	}

	// Simulator metadata
	simulator {
		// status messages
		status "ping": "catchall: 0104 0000 01 01 0040 00 6A67 00 00 0000 0A 00 0A70696E67"
		status "hello": "catchall: 0104 0000 01 01 0040 00 0A21 00 00 0000 0A 00 0A48656c6c6f20576f726c6421"
	}
	// UI tile definitions
	tiles {
        valueTile("RFID", "device.RFID", width: 0, height: 0) {}
        standardTile("OUT", "device.OUT", width: 3, height: 1, canChangeIcon: false, canChangeBackground: false, inactiveLabel: false) {
        	state "Waiting...", label: 'RFID', unit: "ID", icon: "st.contact.contact.closed"
        }    
		standardTile("VISUALID", "device.VISUALID", width: 3, height: 1, canChangeIcon: false, canChangeBackground: false, inactiveLabel: false, decoration: "flat") {
        	state "Waiting...", label: '${currentValue}', unit: "ID"
        }    
		main "OUT"
		details "VISUALID"
	}
}

// Parse incoming device messages to generate events
def parse(String description) {
	def value = zigbee.parse(description)?.text
	log.debug "Parse returned $value"
    sendEvent(name:"VISUALID", value: value)
	sendEvent(name:"RFID", value: value)
    sendEvent(name:"RFID", value: 'waiting...')
}

Go to “My Devices” and click on “+New Device”
Create the Device type with the following values

Name: Smart RFID
Device Network Id: 2323
Type: Smart RFID

Restart the App and you should be able to see the new device 🙂

To test the integration you use this Smart App

Go to “MySmartApps” and click on “+New SmartApp”
In the following page click on tab “From code” and paste the code below

/**
 *  Turn On When RFID
 *
 *  Author: Juan Pablo Risso
 */


// Automatically generated. Make future change here.
definition(
    name: "Turn On When RFID",
    namespace: "",
    author: "juano23@gmail.com",
    description: "If the RFID id is listed as authorized  it will open the selected door",
    category: "My Apps",
    iconUrl: "https://s3.amazonaws.com/smartapp-icons/Convenience/Cat-Convenience.png",
    iconX2Url: "https://s3.amazonaws.com/smartapp-icons/Convenience/Cat-Convenience%402x.png")

preferences {
    section("Read the RFID tag here..."){
		input "id", "device.RfidReader", title: "Where?"
	}
	section("And if the ID match..."){
		input "allow", "text", title: "ID?"
	}
	section("Turn on light(s)..."){
		input "switches", "capability.switch", multiple: true
	}
}

def installed() {
	subscribe(id, "RFID", RFIDHandler)
}

def updated() {
	unsubscribe()
	subscribe(id, "RFID", RFIDHandler)
}

def RFIDHandler(evt) {
	log.debug "$evt.name: $evt.value"
	if (evt.value == allow) {
		log.debug "Turning on lights..."
		switches.on()
	} else {
		log.debug "This is not an authorized ID!"
	}
}

If you like to collaborate please contact me at juano23@gmail.com