Upcoming 'Array' HomeKit-Compatible Deadbolt Uses a Solar Panel for Charging

[MacRumors]

Hampton Products International today announced plans to introduce its first HomeKit-enabled product under its Brink's Home Security brand, debuting the Array digital deadbolt. The Array is a cloud and app-enabled digital door lock that can be unlocked via an iPhone.

Designed to connect to an existing Wi-Fi router, the Array digital deadbolt does not require additional hubs or accessories, resulting in a simple installation process with a single screwdriver. It also uses a unique power management system that consists of a battery combined with a photovoltaic panel that's able to power the lock from indoor and outdoor lighting sources. With this power system, the Array does not require battery replacements or charging and is able to last for multiple years.

As with most smart door locks, the Array connects to an iPhone using an app, which is able to provide functions like temporary door keys and tracking. The app can be used to open the door, or it can be opened with a touchpad or traditional key. HomeKit integration allows the door to be opened with Siri voice commands and it allows the lock to integrate with other HomeKit products.

"When we began development of Array over two years ago, we started with the premise that a connected deadbolt shouldn't be complex or inconvenient for homeowners to use. Our goal was to provide a highly secure, digital deadbolt homeowners could rely on without needing to purchase additional equipment or connect through a gateway hub. We selected Wi-Fi because of its ubiquity, and worked with development partners to build a power management solution into the Array deadbolts that won't require frequent battery replacements or home rewiring," said Jim Hartung, executive vice president, Hampton Products.

The Brink's Home Security Array Digital Deadbolt will be available for purchase starting in late 2016. It will be available in multiple finishes, including satin nickel, Tuscan bronze, and polished brass. Information on pricing is not yet available.

Article Link: Upcoming 'Array' HomeKit-Compatible Deadbolt Uses a Solar Panel for Charging

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Should be really interesting when one of these smart lock companies gets hacked and everyone door gets unlocked. It'll bring the attention we need to put on this type of product and the safeguards in place to keep others from gaining access.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Meh. I paid $30 to give my garage an internet connection. Now anytime/anywhere I have an internet connection, I can just open my garage. Seems to serve the same purpose as this smart lock, and I imagine it was a good deal cheaper.

Also all these smart locks strike me as less secure than conventional locks. With a conventional lock, the only way to break in without damaging something was to pick the lock. With this new lock, there are now two two angles: hack it or pick it. Increasing the number of ways you can open the door increases the number of ways it can be compromised. It makes things less secure instead of more secure.

My garage door has no keypad. It's just another attack vector. If I'm in my car, I'll use the opener in my car. If I'm on foot, I'll use my iPhone. There's never a time when I'd want a keypad.

 

[Black107]

Also all these smart locks strike me as less secure than conventional locks. With a conventional lock, the only way to break in without damaging something was to pick the lock. With this new lock, there are now two two angles: hack it or pick it. Increasing the number of ways you can open the door increases the number of ways it can be compromised. It makes things less secure instead of more secure.

Assuming this is primarily used in a residential setting, the probability of your door being compromised simply by being kicked in is exponentially higher than by being picked, let alone hacked.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I've always been curious about the obsession with door locks.

On the one hand, I want the toughest possible door lock that can withstand a small tank *Tim The Toolman Grund* uagh uagh uagh.

On the other hand, all the windows including the one right next to the door can easily be broken with pretty much any hard object, so the strength of the lock is pretty moot. Further, getting the kind of glass that resists breaking from thrown bricks (tempered or reinforced) is super expensive.

The only conclusion I've come to is that whatever lock I get, it must be stronger than my neighbors' locks. :-D

 

[GenesisST]

My garage door has no keypad. It's just another attack vector. If I'm in my car, I'll use the opener in my car. If I'm on foot, I'll use my iPhone. There's never a time when I'd want a keypad.

I do have a use case personally: when I'm doing yard work and have my hands dirty and don't even have my phone on me. Then I use the keypad

 

[nutmac]

Also all these smart locks strike me as less secure than conventional locks. With a conventional lock, the only way to break in without damaging something was to pick the lock. With this new lock, there are now two two angles: hack it or pick it. Increasing the number of ways you can open the door increases the number of ways it can be compromised. It makes things less secure instead of more secure.

While your argument is true, I am guessing the target audience live in reasonably safe neighborhood. Take an average single family home, for instance. It is far easier to break in by sneaking to the backyard and break one of the windows or backdoor.

If anything, these smart door locks can increase safety by providing real time alert and logging when door is opened. I particularly like the one that takes a picture.

 

[knemonic]

Surprised no one has said this yet, a lot of doors aren't near direct sunlight, so how it will charge is beyond me.

My front door is behind a porch, and it's dark in the porch the whole day, so...

 

[centauratlas]

... late 2016 ...

Long way off!

 

[mw360]

Also all these smart locks strike me as less secure than conventional locks. With a conventional lock, the only way to break in without damaging something was to pick the lock. With this new lock, there are now two two angles: hack it or pick it. Increasing the number of ways you can open the door increases the number of ways it can be compromised. It makes things less secure instead of more secure.

But the number of vulnerabilites doesn't give the whole picture. How serious are those vulnerabilities? Lockpicking and hacking?

Of the ten or so burlaries that have affected me, my family or my neighbours, none have been via lock picking and I very much doubt they would have been via hacking had there been smartlocks on the doors & windows. Burglars break doors and windows, or get in through doors what weren't locked.

These smart locks (or maybe future iterations) would probably have deterred or curtailed half of the above burglaries, either by alerting the owner to an unlocked door, allowing remote locking, locking the doors automatically at night, or alerting the absent owner to a violent impact on the door.

I'm not saying this lock sends such alerts, but that's where we're headed. Imagine a lock which send an alert to your phone if somebody so much as even touches the handle. Thats upping the risks for would-be burglars quite considerably.

 

[dyt1983]

edit: to remove personally identifying information not relevant to the thread.

 

[Carmenia83]

I love my electronic locks because I hate carrying keys. Mine aren't smart locks or anything, just a keypad. I'm all for new tech but I just don't see the need for connected locks. The only plausible thing I can think of is the doors unlocking when the smoke alarms go off so the fire department has access, but I think they enjoy the axe play anyway lol.

 

[longofest]

But the new number of vulnerabilites doesn't give the whole picture. How serious are those vulnerabilities? Lockpicking and hacking?

Lock picking can be pretty damned easy, especially for residential models. I'd think that any burglar that sees a key would default to a lockpick than resorting to a hack, as generally the skillset needed for hacking is not generally available to common burglars.

That being said, there will come a day when lock hacks are packaged and sold on the black market so that all you need is a smartphone, an app, press a button, and wallah - open any lock. In which case, you need to make sure your smart lock manufacturer has a method of doing firmware updates to patch vulnerabilities.

 

[AbSoluTc]

If someone wants in your house, they will get in. No lock, door, key or anything else will stop them. Locks keep people honest and make everyone feel safe. If burglaries are a problem, you get a home security system and hope that the loud alarm scares them off.

These smart locks aren't so smart. I have had two and the one thing they don't tell you is - if your door has any friction, the deadbolt won't lock. Meaning if you have one of those doors that you have to pull it closed to lock the deadbolt because it's just a little off, it won't work. Lots of houses are like that. You can fix it but it's not that easy. I am not worried about hacking or lock picking at all. I just want the damn thing to work 99% of the time without issue.

Too many of these don't work as intended.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I do have a use case personally: when I'm doing yard work and have my hands dirty and don't even have my phone on me. Then I use the keypad

I just leave the garage open in that scenario. I only have something like 1/16th of an acre, with most of that occupied by the house, driveway, and deck. There's very little lawn to tend to, and my garage is visible from everywhere in my lawn.

It sends me an alert if I leave it open for more than 15 minutes (very little I do outside ever takes that long.)

Your lawn is probably much larger if you bring it up.

 

[macduke]

Assuming this is primarily used in a residential setting, the probability of your door being compromised simply by being kicked in is exponentially higher than by being picked, let alone hacked.

Not for those of us who have taken simple measures to ensure that won't happen. There are some handy hardened steel kits you can buy at many hardware stores that really shore things up. That's the first thing I did when I bought my first home a few years ago.

--

As for this device itself, I hope it's a really good solar panel. My home faces north and there are only a few weeks in the summer that it would get direct light. We're going to be putting things on the market soon, so I might look into something like this for my new house. I hated the idea of having to change batteries in my freaking front door.

Does anyone know if this is a thing? I want a smart door lock that opens with a certain pin code during certain hours on weekdays. We have a daycare and I hate that my wife leaves the door unlocked from 7:15a until 8:30a and from 4p to 5:30p with all those kiddos inside. It's just too much of a pain to go unlock the door for each person when they arrive. And a few months ago my wife watched as your neighbors house was burglarized in the middle of the day! So my concern is justified. This problem is going to be even worse in our next house. We're looking at getting a walkout so our door upstairs would be unlocked and daycare would be downstairs in the walkout, meaning anyone could walk in during that time and she'd have no idea. So the idea is parents could have a special code that works during certain times of the day.

 

[mw360]

That being said, there will come a day when lock hacks are packaged and sold on the black market so that all you need is a smartphone, an app, press a button, and wallah - open any lock. In which case, you need to make sure your smart lock manufacturer has a method of doing firmware updates to patch vulnerabilities.

Yeah, its easy to imagine that, and its the kind of scare story that would spread like wildfire through Facebook, but in reality? Are crimes involving both physical presence and hacking all that common outside of movies? Seems like it needs a larger set of skills than the average lowlife possesses. And the solution seems obvious, when fixing an vulnerability, leave detection code so that anyone trying to exploit that vulnerability triggers an immediate alert. Now you can identify burglars before they've even stepped on your property.

 

[doelcm82]

These smart locks aren't so smart. I have had two and the one thing they don't tell you is - if your door has any friction, the deadbolt won't lock. Meaning if you have one of those doors that you have to pull it closed to lock the deadbolt because it's just a little off, it won't work. Lots of houses are like that. You can fix it but it's not that easy. I am not worried about hacking or lock picking at all. I just want the damn thing to work 99% of the time without issue.

Too many of these don't work as intended.

I want one that works similar to many hotel room electronic locks. You can turn the handle and nothing happens. It doesn't disengage the lock. But swipe your NFC key, and the handle engages with the latch assembly. Then you can turn it and it pulls back the latch.

 

[Binarymix]

Meh. I paid $30 to give my garage an internet connection. Now anytime/anywhere I have an internet connection, I can just open my garage. Seems to serve the same purpose as this smart lock, and I imagine it was a good deal cheaper.

Also all these smart locks strike me as less secure than conventional locks. With a conventional lock, the only way to break in without damaging something was to pick the lock. With this new lock, there are now two two angles: hack it or pick it. Increasing the number of ways you can open the door increases the number of ways it can be compromised. It makes things less secure instead of more secure.

My garage door has no keypad. It's just another attack vector. If I'm in my car, I'll use the opener in my car. If I'm on foot, I'll use my iPhone. There's never a time when I'd want a keypad.

There is a saying (especially within the lock industry):

Locks only keep honest people out. There is, and always will be a way to bypass any lock, if the thief wants in bad enough.

This is why we do basically 2 factor authentication on houses these days, Locks, and security alarms.

At least one 'should' deter a thief. But one or the other, or both (most secure) is not a guarantee.
[doublepost=1453242966][/doublepost]

I want one that works similar to many hotel room electronic locks. You can turn the handle and nothing happens. It doesn't disengage the lock. But swipe your NFC key, and the handle engages with the latch assembly. Then you can turn it and it pulls back the latch.

Which is all good and fine as long as they don't scale your balcony and jimmy your latch open, or smash a hole in the drywall and simply unlock the door from the inside(not unheard of).


*Not downplaying hotel security, their lock bodies are top of the line these days, but are only as good as the surrounding infrastructure*

 

[Benjamin Frost]

I find the electronic lock a solution looking for a problem, much like the Apple Watch.

Yes, there are cases where it could be convenient, but most of the time, there are simply no advantages over a traditional key, and many disadvantages.

It's just another example out of endless ones these days, which all point to the end of tech as we know it; it's as though we have reached a natural limit to what we can do with tech that is better than traditional ways. The internet solved paperwork; that seems the biggest benefit to the past 30 years of tech.

 

[doelcm82]

Which is all good and fine as long as they don't scale your balcony and jimmy your latch open, or smash a hole in the drywall and simply unlock the door from the inside(not unheard of).

I'm really not worrying about anyone smashing a hole in my drywall. This is for my next home, which I plan to build using insulated concrete forms. The entire house will be a tornado shelter.

 

[mw360]

I find the electronic lock a solution looking for a problem, much like the Apple Watch.

Yes, there are cases where it could be convenient, but most of the time, there are simply no advantages over a traditional key, and many disadvantages.

It's just another example out of endless ones these days, which all point to the end of tech as we know it; it's as though we have reached a natural limit to what we can do with tech that is better than traditional ways. The internet solved paperwork; that seems the biggest benefit to the past 30 years of tech.

The same could be said, and is said ad nauseam, about every single 'smart home' device when considered in isolation. 'How hard is it to flick a light switch?' The true solution won't be revealed until all of this stuff actually works to its potential.

I'm responsible for securing the home at night. Turning off all the lights, checking all the doors and windows are locked, checking theres a key nearby in the case of fire, making sure that garage is shut, checking we've not left the oven on, or the fridge door ajar (it sticks sometimes), and that the cat isn't locked into a room he shouldn't be, etc. How hard is it to do any one of those things? Not hard, but all of them, every night? It takes time, and I'm tired and sometimes, because I'm not a computer, I miss one.

Over the years we've had a couple of incidents which would have been great to avoid. To be able to secure the whole house in one action while I brush my teeth would be a solution to that problem. Being able to detect intruders *before* they successfully intrude would be another solution to a different problem. Having a house be able to coordinate its own defence against burglars would be a vast improvement over just locking the doors and hoping. One smart lock alone doesn't do that, especially not this one, but give it time.

 

[knemonic]

My Logitech solar keyboard is never in direct sunlight, and it seems to do OK. The efficiency of direct sunlight is probably a lot more important when you're trying to power your house or something as opposed to the energy needs of something that could otherwise be powered by a couple AA batteries.

How often do you have to change the batteries? A dead keyboard doesn't make it difficult (or impossible if you don't have a key) to get in your home. I like the idea of not having to replace the batteries but they better add some sort of low battery notification in case the solar panel isn't providing any power. It just seems like it's extra functionality that might be useful for quite a few homes, increasing the cost when in reality it might not be worth it.

 

[longofest]

These smart locks aren't so smart. I have had two and the one thing they don't tell you is - if your door has any friction, the deadbolt won't lock. Meaning if you have one of those doors that you have to pull it closed to lock the deadbolt because it's just a little off, it won't work. Lots of houses are like that. You can fix it but it's not that easy.

My Schlage smart lock will tell you whether it failed to lock properly. It's not just a fire-and-forget like you describe.

 

[GenesisST]

I just leave the garage open in that scenario. I only have something like 1/16th of an acre, with most of that occupied by the house, driveway, and deck. There's very little lawn to tend to, and my garage is visible from everywhere in my lawn.

It sends me an alert if I leave it open for more than 15 minutes (very little I do outside ever takes that long.)

Your lawn is probably much larger if you bring it up.

My yard isn't that big, but lots of shrubs and plants, but I was robbed 15 years ago, so I'm a bit paranoid about leaving a wide open access, even if I'm around.

Which garage door opener are you using?