Features
IoT-based smart locker system designed by Lankan engineering student
by The Island Features Desk
Thiman T. Dulsara Kumarage’s final year dissertation for his BSc. (Hons.) Software Engineering degree at ICBT Colombo, awarded by Cardiff Metropolitan University, tackles three modern-day problems with the development of an IoT (Internet of Things) based smart locker system. The Island met Kumarage, who is also an undergraduate at Plymouth University (NSBM), parallelly following a BSc. (Hons.) Computer Security, to talk at length about his latest project.”
Q: What are the problems you are trying to solve?
A: Of the three major problems, one concerned the Last Mile Delivery [Last mile delivery is defined as the movement of goods from a transportation hub to the final delivery destination. The final delivery destination is typically a personal residence; another contactless parcel exchange, and finally, the short-term rental key exchange problem.
Regarding the last mile delivery, according to multiple studies, most door-to-door delivery companies incur over 50 percent of their total delivery costs during the final door-to-door delivery efforts. Having to go door-to-door with multiple parcels while doing redeliveries for missed attempts, these companies need to maintain a large number of delivery personnel and vehicles.
Furthermore, fuel costs, maintenance of vehicles, insurance for vehicles and staff against accidents and domestic issues such as dog bites at delivery points heavily increase the costs they must incur, which they do by passing it down to the customer as well. From a customer perspective, door-to-door deliveries can sometimes be highly inconvenient, especially for people who work away from home. Many often find themselves having to take time off work to be home to collect parcels on delivery dates, or make other arrangements such as troubling friends, family or neighbours to collect on their behalf as they know the alternative is risking porch piracy [porch piracy refers to a situation in which an individual steals a package from a porch or other area near the main entrance of a residence before the recipient can retrieve it] or missed delivery, in which case they must go to a distant office to collect their parcel.
Finally, concerning the short-term rental key exchange problem; in modern times we often book apartments and other accommodation options online, such as on Airbnb and Agoda. However, the actual key exchange between the landlord and the rentee still requires physical contact. Given that the amount of money that can be made renting property short-term is much higher than long-term rentals, this is a major incentive for landlords. However, given that landlords often must rush or wait to exchange keys with the rentees, the cleaning crews or maintenance crews, making this an active income stream which requires a lot of time commitment; many landlords opt for the passive income path of long-term rentals, even at lower rates. Although some landlords trust security or cleaning personnel to do the key exchange for them, there had been many cases where such staff had illegally rented apartments without the landlord’s consent, even for illegal activities.
These were the three primary issues I was trying to address in my project.
Q: How does your solution resolve the problem?
A: The project proposes an IoT-based smart automated locker system. It proposes a system in which such lockers would be located in public places similar to ATMs. A person could come to the locker, place an item and provide the details of the intended recipient. Once the item is stored and locked, the recipient is automatically informed, via text and email, of the package waiting them, along with the details for the locker, and the password (key) with which to retrieve it. It is in essence like a locker that you can lock an item in, and virtually send the key to the recipient with which to unlock it.
When it comes to the last mile delivery issue, delivery personnel can deliver missed deliveries to the nearest automated locker, drastically increasing their delivery efficiency by not having to attempt redeliveries. From a customer’s perspective, they could choose to get their items delivered to these lockers rather than their homes, so they don’t need to cancel their plans to stay home to collect parcels or risk porch piracy. Once delivered to the locker, the recipient can simply collect their parcels from the locker on their way home from work. When more and more customers opt to get items delivered to the lockers, the number of door-to-door deliveries drop, which can lead to a drastic reduction in delivery costs, which benefits both the companies and customers.
The same logic applies for contactless parcel delivery. When it comes to the key exchange problem, this offers many benefits, ranging from making short-term rental services a passive operation, encouraging more landlords to engage in this form of rentals, to reducing rental cost dispute issues, as the locker can maintain a log of exactly when the keys were collected and returned, as short-term rental fees are often paid for set periods of hours.
Q: Is this a novel solution?
A: Although it’s not available in Sri Lanka, similar systems are very popular aboard as a way of addressing last-mile delivery issues. However, this concept hasn’t been specifically used for key exchange by any major service provider.
Q: Is there any difference between this project and the current systems available abroad?
This had also led to other unintended risks, such as dishonest customers who collect parcels from lockers before falsely requesting refunds from sellers claiming they were stolen. Due to this being such a major issue in foreign countries, many sellers refuse to offer delivery options to these automated lockers. A concept filled with potential has hit a roadblock due to this lack of confidence.
In the proposed solution, I have proposed to place load/weight sensors in all compartments. When a delivery is made, the locker logs the time of delivery, and once the locker door is closed, it also measures its weight. This information is then included in the message sent to the customer and delivery company. This in essence, provides irrefutable evidence to all parties if a dispute is to ever occur. This also addresses the vital need for confidence in the system.
Q: What research have you undertaken to justify the proposal?
A: As a part of the research conducted to gather international data through secondary sources for the project, I have undertaken data collection and analysis of multiple peer-reviewed research papers and journals. Furthermore, I have interviewed a number of delivery personnel in both Sri Lanka and abroad where such locker systems exist, as well as landlords with short-term rentals to get an in-depth understanding of the variables and influences concerned. In addition, I have personally experienced such delivery disputes during my time abroad.
Q: What are the deliverables of
the project?
A: At the conclusion of the project, I’ve been able to produce a proof-of-concept smart-locker, powered by a Raspberry Pi 4 and an Atmel microcontroller, controlled by a custom-made software for the locker, and an android mobile application for the end user. The deliverables were strictly designed for closed-testing and proof-of-concept purposes, to assess the feasibility of the technology.
Q: Have you undertaken any other similar projects?
A: I have both directly undertaken or have been involved in multiple IoT based projects, as the primary overall systems designer, including highlight projects such as a ‘human-elephant cohabitation’ (HackaDev) project which proposed a new take on human-elephant conflicts, and a Web and Mobile controlled smart home solution project which allows users to use low-cost non-smart appliances such as normal lights or fans along with smart-home features.
Thiman Kumarage wishes to thank lecturer, Induneth De Silva, and his supervisor, Vindya Karunarathne, for their kind guidance throughout the project. He is grateful to the management and staff of Alucare (Pvt.) Ltd. and SilverReed Advertising Services (Pvt.) Ltd. for their kind assistance in helping him build the physical structure of the locker system according to his specifications. He thanks his parents for all the mental and financial support to make all his projects a reality.