Smart Garage Door Opener

A complete IoT garage door opener system featuring secure Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, ESP32-C3 microcontroller, custom PCB design, and Android mobile application.

🚀 Project Overview

This project implements a modern, secure garage door opener that can be controlled via a smartphone app. The system features:

• Secure BLE Communication: Encrypted pairing and authentication
• ESP32-C3 Based Controller: Low-power WiFi/BLE microcontroller
• Custom PCB Design: Professional circuit board with integrated power management
• Android Mobile App: Modern Material Design 3 interface
• Visual Feedback: 8-digit LED matrix display for status and pairing codes
• Physical Controls: Manual pairing button and factory reset capability

📁 Project Structure

Garage Door Opener Root/
├── Garage Door Opener Circuit/        # KiCad PCB design files
│   ├── GarageOpener.kicad_sch         # Main schematic
│   ├── GarageOpener.kicad_pcb         # PCB layout
│   ├── production files/              # Gerber files for manufacturing
│   └── parts.txt                      # Bill of materials
├── Garage Door Opener Code/
│   ├── ESP32/                         # Firmware for ESP32-C3
│   │   └── Garage Door Opener/
│   │       ├── src/main.cpp           # Main firmware code
│   │       └── platformio.ini        # PlatformIO configuration
│   └── Android/                       # Android mobile application
│       └── GarageOpenerUI/
│           └── app/src/main/          # Android app source code
├── LICENSE                            # Project license
└── README.md                          # This file

🔧 Hardware Components

Main Components

• ESP32-C3-MINI-1U-N4: Main microcontroller with WiFi/BLE
• 5V Relay Module: Controls garage door motor
• MAX7219 LED Matrix: 8-digit display for status and pairing codes
• Buck Converter: Efficient 5V power supply from mains voltage
• 3.3V Regulator: Powers ESP32 and logic circuits

Key Features

• Input Voltage: 3.8V - 32V DC input range
• Power Consumption: Low-power design with sleep modes
• Protection: ESD protection, overcurrent protection
• Connectivity: Micro USB for user cusom programming and debugging
• User Interface: Physical pairing button, LED status indicators

PCB Specifications

• Board Size: Compact form factor for enclosure mounting
• Layers: Multi-layer design for proper power distribution
• Components: Surface mount components for reliability
• Connectors: Screw terminals for garage door connections

💻 Software Features

ESP32 Firmware

• Secure BLE Server: Implements encrypted communication
• Pairing Management: Secure device pairing with passkey display
• Display Controller: Real-time status updates on LED matrix
• Memory Management: Persistent storage of paired devices
• Factory Reset: Complete system reset capability

Android Application

• Modern UI: Material Design 3 with Jetpack Compose
• Device Discovery: Automatic BLE device scanning
• Secure Pairing: Handles BLE security and authentication
• Device Management: Save and manage multiple garage door openers
• Real-time Status: Live connection status and feedback

🔐 Security Features

• Encrypted BLE Communication: All data transmitted over encrypted channels
• Device Authentication: Secure pairing with passkey verification
• Bonded Devices: Only previously paired devices can connect
• Timeout Protection: Pairing mode automatically times out
• Factory Reset: Complete security reset capability

🛠️ Installation & Setup

Hardware Assembly

1. PCB Assembly: Solder all components according to the schematic
2. Power Connection: Connect 5-32V DC power supply to input terminals
3. Relay Wiring: Connect relay outputs to garage door motor controls
4. Display Connection: Wire MAX7219 LED matrix to designated pins
5. Enclosure: Mount PCB in weatherproof enclosure

Firmware Installation

1. Install PlatformIO: Set up PlatformIO IDE or VS Code extension
2. Clone Repository: Download project files
3. Configure Platform: Verify ESP32-C3 platform configuration
4. Build & Upload: Compile and flash firmware to ESP32

cd "Garage Door Opener Code/ESP32/Garage Door Opener"
pio run --target upload

Android App Installation

1. Easy Install : Pre built app can be found in Garage Door Opener Code/Android/GarageOpenerUI/app/release/app-release.apk

Android App build

1. Android Studio: Open project in Android Studio
2. Dependencies: Sync Gradle dependencies
3. Build Configuration: Configure signing and build settings
4. Install: Build and install APK on Android device

cd "Garage Door Opener Code/Android/GarageOpenerUI"
./gradlew assembleRelease

📱 Usage Instructions

Initial Setup

1. Power On: Connect power to the garage door opener
2. Pairing Mode: Press and hold the pairing button for 5 seconds
3. Mobile App: Open the Android app and scan for devices
4. Select Device: Choose "Garage" from the discovered devices list
5. Enter Passkey: Input the 6-digit code displayed on the LED matrix
6. Complete Pairing: Confirm pairing on both devices

Daily Operation

1. Open App: Launch the Garage Opener app on your phone
2. Connect: App automatically connects to paired device
3. Control: Tap the garage door button to operate
4. Status: Monitor connection status via app interface

Advanced Features

• Multiple Devices: Pair multiple garage door openers
• Device Management: Remove or re-pair devices as needed
• Factory Reset: Hold pairing button for 10 seconds to reset

🔌 Pin Configuration

ESP32-C3 Pin Assignments

#define RELAY_PIN 12        // Garage door relay control
#define BUTTON_PIN 13       // Pairing/reset button
#define DIN_PIN 21          // MAX7219 data input
#define CS_PIN 19           // MAX7219 chip select
#define CLK_PIN 18          // MAX7219 clock

Power Requirements

• Input Voltage: 5V - 32V DC
• ESP32 Current: ~80mA active, ~10µA deep sleep
• Relay Current: ~70mA when activated
• Display Current: ~20mA typical

🐛 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Cannot pair device:

• Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on phone
• Verify device is in pairing mode (LED shows passkey)
• Check app permissions for Bluetooth access

Relay not activating:

• Verify power supply voltage (5V minimum)
• Check relay connections and wiring
• Test relay manually with multimeter

Display not working:

• Confirm MAX7219 connections and power
• Verify pin assignments in firmware
• Check display module with simple test code

Connection drops frequently:

• Reduce distance between phone and device
• Check for interference from other 2.4GHz devices
• Verify phone's Bluetooth Low Energy support

🔧 Development

Building from Source

Requirements:

• PlatformIO Core 6.0+
• Android Studio Arctic Fox+
• ESP32 Arduino Core 2.0+
• Android API Level 30+

ESP32 Development:

# Install dependencies
pio pkg install

# Build firmware
pio run

# Upload to device
pio run --target upload

# Monitor serial output
pio device monitor

Android Development:

# Build debug APK
./gradlew assembleDebug

# Run tests
./gradlew test

# Generate release APK
./gradlew assembleRelease

Code Structure

ESP32 Firmware:

• main.cpp: Main application logic and BLE server
• LedController.hpp: MAX7219 display management
• platformio.ini: Build configuration and dependencies

Android Application:

• MainActivity.kt: Main UI and app lifecycle
• BleService.kt: Bluetooth Low Energy communication
• build.gradle.kts: Build configuration and dependencies

📋 Bill of Materials (BOM)

Critical Components

Component	Part Number	Quantity	Description
ESP32-C3-MINI-1U-N4	ESP32-C3-MINI-1U-N4	1	Main microcontroller
Relay	SRD-05VDC-SL-C	1	5V SPDT relay
Buck Converter IC	TBD	1	5V switching regulator
LED Matrix	MAX7219 8-digit	1	Status display
Capacitors	Various	Multiple	Power filtering
Resistors	Various	Multiple	Pull-ups and current limiting

See parts.txt for complete component specifications

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please follow these guidelines:

1. Fork the Repository: Create your own fork
2. Create Feature Branch: git checkout -b feature/new-feature
3. Commit Changes: Use descriptive commit messages
4. Push Branch: git push origin feature/new-feature
5. Create Pull Request: Submit PR with detailed description

Development Standards

• Follow existing code style and formatting
• Add comments for complex logic
• Test thoroughly before submitting
• Update documentation as needed

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

⚠️ Safety Warning

ELECTRICAL SAFETY: This device interfaces with garage door motors that operate at dangerous voltages. Installation should only be performed by qualified electricians. Always disconnect power before making connections.

SECURITY: While this system implements encryption, no system is 100% secure. Use appropriate physical security measures for your garage.

📞 Support

For questions, issues, or contributions:

• Issues: Use GitHub Issues for bug reports
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions for general questions
• Email: Contact project maintainer for urgent issues

🔄 Version History

• v1.0: Initial release with basic BLE functionality
• Future: Planned features include WiFi connectivity, web interface, and voice control integration

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