Cardano Smart Lock - Unlock airbnb doors with Cardano

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Luca Cusella

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Not Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

6

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Create a physical smart-lock that can be unlocked by using a Cardano wallet that contains specific NTFs. Let’s bring crypto to the accommodation-sharing sector with a real use case.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No Dependencies

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

MIT

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The idea is to implement a proof of concept of a smart lock that can be unlocked by simply interacting with a Cardano wallet that contains a specific NFT associated with the smart lock.

Here is an overview of the user experience:

1. The owner of the smart lock can set it up by associating it, via the CardanoSmartLock dApp tool that will interact with a cardano wallet in the browser, to a specific NFT that will be minted in the process.
2. This NFT can then be transferred to anyone and can be used as a “master” key to create “physical” keys that are able to open the smart lock.
3. The user that owns this NFT in their wallet, by interacting with the CardanoSmartLock dApp tool, can generate a key pair (e.g. RSA). The public key generated will be posted on the blockchain in a specific metadata field. This is the key step that associates an offline key to the wallet that contains a specific NFT.
4. The key pair can then be transferred to the CardanoSmartLock mobile app.
5. At this point the user, by using the CardanoSmartLock mobile app, can use the phone to open the smart lock:
6. He will bring the phone closer to the smart lock
7. The smart lock will interact with the CardanoSmartLock mobile app via NFC and ask for a signature
8. The smart lock will then verify the signature by looking on mainnet for the transactions that follow the protocol and are coming from wallets that contained the NFT associated with the smart lock when the transaction occurred.

Key pair registrations will be considered valid only if they come from the wallet that is currently owning the NFT.

1. From these transactions can obtain the public key and verify that the signature provided via the app is valid: in that case it will open the lock.
2. The owner of the smart lock, can, at any moment in time, associate and mint a new NFT with the smart lock and in this way invalidate all the previous keypair generated.

The proof of concept will be considered completed when delivering:

• The protocol definition
• CardanoSmartLock dApp tool
• CardanoSmartLock mobile app
• The smart lock software for the device

For the proof of concept we will not build the real lock but we’ll just prototype the smart lock with a raspberry pi zero 2 capable with all the interaction with the app and the blockchain that will set the status of a relay instead of opening a real door.

The CardanoSmartLock dApp and the CardanoSmartLock mobile will use standard graphics and nothing customized will be developed: these are only needed functional pieces to make the proof of concept working.

Why is this proof of concept so powerful? 

1. It opens the way to introduce crypto, by exploiting it’s most powerful trait, the cryptography, in the accommodation-sharing industry like Airbnb.
2. It solve a practical problem for host and guest that need to have a physical access to the accommodations rented (hint: an NFT can be moved to other people as well)
3. It doesn’t rely on third party / cloud infrastructure that can be hacked and are not in control of the active actors

Additional notes:

We opted for using a separate set of keys that will be associated with a wallet in order to circumvent the lack of availability of cardano mobile wallets that are capable of interacting with external applications.

This is a possible additional path that can be explored in the future and will remove the step about the creation of an external keypair, allowing users to sign the data for the verification by directly using their stake key.

The current approach of having key pair registrations allows the users to create any number of keys capable of opening the smart lock.

In the protocol we will define:

• a revocation mechanism for the key pairs generated

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

The economic sector of accommodation-sharing platforms represents a dynamic and rapidly evolving segment of the travel and hospitality industry. These platforms, led by companies like Airbnb, facilitate peer-to-peer transactions between hosts and guests, creating new opportunities for both sides of the market.

This project, considering it’s a proof of concept, will demonstrate a real use case of the blockchain technology for the accommodation-sharing industry sector and this can potentially bring people currently out of the crypto world into the Cardano ecosystem.

The success of the project can be measured by:

• A complete proof of concept working and reproducible 
• The project open source on github

The final output, even if not ready for production use, will be already usable by other people for potential extensions and support.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

The team already has extensive experience in the creation of apps, websites as well as the experience with the creation of Cardano dApps.

A study about the technical feasibility of the project was already performed and the technology stack is already identified:

• Vue.js CardanoSmartLock dApp tool
• Vue.js CardanoSmartLock mobile app
• Ionic (to interact with NFC of phone and create the mobile app)
• Blockfrost API for the interaction with the chain data (query wallets info)

The team of 2 developers that will implement the project is already identified and a budget agreed.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1:

Definition of the protocol

Establish the foundational architectural design for the protocol, including the technical specification and the mechanics of it

Deliverables: A technical document describing the protocol

Acceptance criteria: 

• The document is public and available in our github
• The protocol fulfill the requirement of the project use case

Milestone 2:

Implementation of the CardanoSmartLock dApp tool 1/2

Deliverables: the first part code for the CardanoSmartLock dApp tool related to the NFT minting and smart lock association

Acceptance Criteria:

• The github repo contains the code for CardanoSmartLock dApp tool
• CardanoSmartLock dApp tool is capable to mint the NFT with the correct information to associate it with the smart lock following the protocol definition

Milestone 3:

Implementation of the CardanoSmartLock dApp tool 2/2

Deliverables: the second part code for the CardanoSmartLock dApp tool related to the key pair generation and on-chain publication

Acceptance Criteria:

• The github repo contains the code for CardanoSmartLock dApp tool
• CardanoSmartLock dApp tool is capable to generate and export a keypair
• CardanoSmartLock dApp tool is capable to post transactions on chain, from wallets that contains the CardanoSmartLock NTFs, that contain the public key of the key pair generated

Milestone 4:

Implementation of the CardanoSmartLock mobile app

Deliverables: a proof of concept mobile app (only for Android) to interact with the smart lock

Acceptance Criteria:

• The github repo contains the code for CardanoSmartLock mobile app
• CardanoSmartLock mobile app is capable to import a keypair generated by the CardanoSmartLock dApp tool
• CardanoSmartLock mobile app is capable to exchange messages via NFC

Milestone 5:

Implementation of the software for the raspberry

Deliverables: a python application that runs on the raspberry

Acceptance Criteria:

• The github repo contains the code that will be executed by the raspberry (our prototype smart lock)
• The software is capable to exchange messages via NFC
• The software is capable to look on chain for a specific NFT and extract the related valid keypair registrations
• The software is capable verify a signature for a given public key
• The software is capable to activate a relay when a signature is valid 

Final Milestone:

Finalization of the proof of concept

Deliverables: final report and video

Acceptance Criteria:

• Final report and video are available for the community
• The video demonstrates the proof of concept working

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Luca Cusella - Founder / Content and Creative (https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-cusella-b5a34418/)

Luca is an audiovisual professional with 15+ experience in development and production of documentary and fiction content.

His experience includes cinema and television, having worked for several years on set in various roles (camera operator, director of photography, direction, focus puller), thanks to his good problem solving skills in the field.

He collaborates with services and organizations such as Rai Cinema as a filmmaker, curating content for them, even for important events such as the Venice Film Festival.

He worked for several major brands like Ferrari, Maserati, Condenaste, Confindustira and others. 

He also takes care of communication projects and produces documentary films linked to the territory, in synergy with tourist and cultural promotion activities.

Vlad - is a Full stack developer, with 5+ years experience mainly focused in web and hybrid app development.

Languages and frameworks: PHP, Javascript, Typescript, Python, Laravel, Wordpress, Angular.js, Vue.js, Node.js, React.

He already completed projects that involve the use of the Cardano stack (e.g. Wallet connectors, Serialization lib) in various envir onment (server side in Python and Node.js, client side with Javascript)

David - is a Frontend developer, with 3+ years experience mainly focused in web development.

Languages and frameworks: Typescript, Wordpress, Vue.js, React.

He mainly focuses on the visual aspect of the development and also has little experience as a designer.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Research and definition of the protocol - 200 hours @50/hour = $10,000

Development - 400 hours @ $50/hour = $20,000

Project Administration - $3,000

• Monthly/Milestone Reporting
• Funds management
• Close out report and video

Total Budget - 73,333 ada ($33,000 @ ~ 0,45)

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The proposed Cardano Smart Lock project offers significant value for money within the Cardano ecosystem. By leveraging blockchain technology, particularly Cardano's robust cryptography, the project introduces a practical solution for the accommodation-sharing sector, addressing security concerns while promoting adoption of cryptocurrency. The cost-effectiveness of the project is evidenced by its focus on a proof of concept using accessible hardware like the Raspberry Pi Zero 2, minimizing initial investment while maximizing functionality. Moreover, the project's open-source nature ensures scalability and potential for widespread adoption, amplifying its value relative to its cost. As it demonstrates tangible use cases for Cardano in real-world scenarios, the project's investment aligns with the broader goals of ecosystem growth and innovation.

The main costs are intended for software development, research and technical documentation, and the average hourly cost indicated is in line with the Italian averages in the sector. The estimate of 75 men/day (8 hours a day) is sufficient for the complete development of the proof of concept.