Access control to homes, business or data is about balancing security and
convenience. Twenty years ago, major progress was accomplished when a physical
key could be replaced by a low frequency RFID or a simple pin code. Similarly,
ten years ago, electronic access technologies evolved by incorporating NFC,
2.4 GHz wireless (like Bluetooth LE) and biometrics with fingerprint
identification. Today, both electronic and biometric access technologies are
ready for another evolution across the Smart Home, Smart Building and Smart
City segments. How can NXP technologies simplify and streamline the design of
smart locks and access devices?
We have created a modular toolkit bringing together six different Smart Access
technologies that can be combined to fit multiple mission profiles.
Fit to Mission Profile
The Smart Access platform is a scalable, comprehensive platform solution
supporting electronic access control designs from entry level to advanced
wireless, security and biometric access technologies.
We built it so developers can pick the technologies that best suit their use
case and integrate them together to create single or multiple factor
authentication solutions. It includes traditional but still popular approaches
(like a PIN pad), to NFC or badge access, to state-of-the-art approaches such
as using ultra-wideband to detect the location of a person (e.g., spatial
awareness,) identifying that person securely, and then finally granting access
with facial recognition or another biometric technology. Connectivity is
provided through Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi.
At the core, the advanced capabilities of NXP edge processors, wireless
devices and advanced security products combined with application-level
hardware and software design package reduce development effort and speed time
to market.
Smart Access Platform Solution Block Diagram
Remote Access Control with Matter
Wireless connectivity such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread and Wi-Fi is widely
adopted in access control products today but lack of interoperability between
brands has been limiting adoption. Enter
Matter, a new wireless protocol standard, which is designed to unify major IoT
ecosystems and deliver true interoperability—devices working together
seamlessly across ecosystems and brands.
NXP is a leading supplier of Matter solutions with support for Thread, Wi-Fi
and Bluetooth LE. We used the NXP
K32W0
multiprotocol wireless MCU to support Matter with Thread and Bluetooth LE for
provisioning devices to a Matter-based network. For more information about
Matter, please visit
nxp.com/matter.
Spatial Context with UWB
Ultra-wideband (UWB) is another technology gaining traction in the IoT market,
and it can be found in a growing number of smart phones. UWB access control
brings greater security, and a better user experience with accurate relative
positioning of the user to the access device. The Smart Access platform kit
includes the
SR150, a secure UWB solution designed specifically for the IoT market that can
provide secure ranging and angle of arrival with advanced secure ranging. Authorized users can seamlessly and securely control their access device with
a registered UWB-enabled phone or key fob, hands-free from their pocket. For
more information about UWB, please visit
nxp.com/uwb.
Access with Biometric Technologies
Biometric access technology started with fingerprint sensors, which is now a mature
biometric access control technology. To deliver more security and convenience,
new biometric technologies have been developed such as facial recognition and
iris recognition.
The NXP Smart Access platform solution includes a secure facial recognition
module supporting up to three types of cameras (RGB, IR and 3D structured
light,) with all the necessary ML algorithms to run at the edge.
All these use cases require a sensor to capture the biometric data and a
processor to handle the algorithms. Now, with facial recognition widely adopted
in smart phones, it is becoming a new standard in access control applications.
To address the challenges of facial recognition running on the edge securely and
efficiently, NXP provides AI/ML edge tools through our
eIQ® Tool Kit, which supports several families of NXP i.MX applications processors and i.MX
RT Crossover MCUs, and our recently launched NXP EdgeReady facial recognition
solutions, based on i.MX RT106F/117F crossover MCUs provide an out-of-the-box
solution for access control applications. For more information about Facial
Recognition, please visit
www.nxp.com/mcu-vision2
and
www.nxp.com/mcu-vision3d.
Building with a Secure Platform
In addition to these technologies, the Smart Access platform solution supports
NFC and fingerprint authentication. This platform solution gives manufacturers
flexibility to choose the technology that best fits their use case. The Smart
Access platform also supports highly advanced embedded security features based
on the
LPC5500,
K32W061,
QN9090
and
i.MX RT crossover MCUs
and other connectivity components. Support for a discrete secure element
(SE051) is also available to enable the most secure use cases.
NXP brings all these compelling technologies into a single platform to support
specific segment applications and give our customers opportunities to create
truly innovative products. NXP continues to invest in system solutions to
bring value to our customer with software stacks, algorithms and integration
along with our silicon products. The Smart Access platform solution includes
hardware design files, software pack source code, design guide documents,
videos and trainings.
Contact NXP sales to schedule a demonstration.
