SafeBox - An effective solution to prevent package theft
The Project
SafeBox is a delivery box (to be placed in porches) that prevents package thefts by notifying the owner whenever a new package is received and alerting the owner and the neighborhood in the case of a package theft attempt. This is being achieved through a weight-monitoring mechanism along with email notifications and sound alarms. For further protection, SafeBox can be fastened to the floor or to a wall which can prevent the thief from stealing the packages with the SafeBox itself. Last year alone, a C+R survey indicated that 43% of online shoppers have had at least one package stolen. The goal of this engineering project is to create a delivery box that prevents package theft by alerting the owner and the neighborhood in case of one. This project is built using Raspberry Pi 3 with Arduino Uno. The system uses an HX711 load cell to continuously monitor the weight on the SafeBox. When the weight is changed, through Arduino Uno, the sensor sends the signal to Raspberry Pi which has the algorithm built using Python for alerts and notifications, along with passcode validation for package pickup by the owner. The Python email library is used for email notifications, and Pygame is used for sound alerts from external speakers. The owner will receive a “Package Received” email every time the weight is increased. Whenever the weight is reduced without a passcode (theft), the owner will immediately receive an email, and SafeBox will also trigger a loud alarm to draw public attention to the scene. The owner will receive a “Package Picked Up” email every time the weight is decreased after the owner enters the passcode. SafeBox runs free of error and has met the goals set in the design standards, including sub-second notifications and alarms. This box can be kept at the owner's porches and business lobbies, to solve the pressing problems of the e-commerce industry. The SafeBox is a unique and cost-effective solution for protecting packages, and it requires less manual intervention.
