RKS: Robotic Key System Q&A with John Loughlin of SCI

[Raccoon]

This is all nice and good guys, but remember, this lock is intended to replace common pin-tumbler locks at an affordable price. The market is residential properties, not Area 51.

[Schuyler]

This is all nice and good guys, but remember, this lock is intended to replace common pin-tumbler locks at an affordable price. The market is residential properties, not Area 51.

I don't believe that is correct, but John can, of course, elaborate. I've always heard of this lock in connection with highly specialized applications, not common residential locks.

[Raccoon]

From what I've read, and the simple fact that this is a retrofitted euro cylinder, it appears that the lock will be intended for residential consumers after prototyping and special market test phases have completed. It will take time for the business to grow in small quantity applications before it is ready to take on a billion households.

[n2oah]

What if the power goes out in a card key system? Does it fail safe or secure? It probably has a key bypass anyways, which opens it up to the problems you were originally trying to avoid. With the RKS, you don't have to worry about those types of problems.

[mh]

From what I've read, and the simple fact that this is a retrofitted euro cylinder, it appears that the lock will be intended for residential consumers after prototyping and special market test phases have completed. It will take time for the business to grow in small quantity applications before it is ready to take on a billion households.

From what I've read it would have one main application and that would be seal locks for containers.
Can you imagine billions of people carrying robotic keys that take their time to dial locks open (and close)?

Cheers,
mh

[greyman]

Raccoon, where did you hear that the RKS was supposed to be a household lock? It may be europrofile compatible, but I can't see any more people using it than the number who currently use Abloy or some such beastie. Most people don't spend their money on good quality front door locks (though, there are exceptions).

One feature that may come in handy, and I don't know if RKS is slated to do this, would be a remote control function that could be activated by e.g. mobile phone or something. It could be an emergency code that you type in when someone you know (or the police, fire brigarde, etc) need access to your home when you are unable to be there (like on holidays or something). It would open the door for them without giving them the key. It could also tell you if the door has been shut properly afterwards. Just an idea of something that could be implementable with a system like RKS.

cheers

greyman

[mh]

One feature that may come in handy, and I don't know if RKS is slated to do this, would be a remote control function that could be activated by e.g. mobile phone or something. It could be an emergency code that you type in when someone you know (or the police, fire brigarde, etc) need access to your home when you are unable to be there (like on holidays or something). It would open the door for them without giving them the key. It could also tell you if the door has been shut properly afterwards. Just an idea of something that could be implementable with a system like RKS.

Indeed, if police, fire brigade etc. were equipped with RKS-Keys, you could tell them your secret code over the phone, and then they could open your door with their key, dialing your code.

[johnloughlin]

From what I've read, and the simple fact that this is a retrofitted euro cylinder, it appears that the lock will be intended for residential consumers after prototyping and special market test phases have completed. It will take time for the business to grow in small quantity applications before it is ready to take on a billion households.

We based the RKS proof of concept units on a Medeco Bi-Axial core form factor. This simply gave us the ability to retro fit the RKS cylinder into alot of existing hardware including a slightly modified Euro Profile housing. The RKS cylinder could be quite a bit smaller or larger depending on the application. Some applications we envision for the RKS are; intermodal containers, parking meters, safes/vaults, pay phones, perimeter security, weapons, utilities, vending, gaming and cargo.

Another important application that was raised was for emergency responders. Currently many commercial buildings have a box that contains key near the front door (see www.knoxbox.com etal), in the event of an emergency the responders could either break the box open or open it with their own key to get the key to the building. We see this as a great opportunity for the RKS. One scenario is the fire truck is equiped with a Robotic Dialer and the firebox contains an enabling element for the dialer.

[Iceberg_Slim]

i use a knox box periodically with my fire department

[n2oah]

Approximately how long does it take for the robotic dialer to dial the combination and open the lock?

[lunchb0x]

becasue this works like a safe lock wouldnt the lock only open in one direction then? if so it would mean you could only use it on lock that open in a certain direction like a safe lock, is this right or not?

[johnloughlin]

Approximately how long does it take for the robotic dialer to dial the combination and open the lock?

about 3 seconds

[mh]

Approximately how long does it take for the robotic dialer to dial the combination and open the lock?

about 3 seconds

With how many discs?

[Jaakko]

becasue this works like a safe lock wouldnt the lock only open in one direction then? if so it would mean you could only use it on lock that open in a certain direction like a safe lock, is this right or not?

It can open both ways. First you dial the combination by the use of the cam or shaft or whatever it is in the middle that rotates. After you have dialed, you then turn the inner cylinder from the little rod that is visible in the "keyway". That inner cylinder then can rotate, if the sidebar can drop to the gates. The sidebar is basically forced against its lifting springs by the housings sidebar slot as it has sloped edges.

[n2oah]

Approximately how long does it take for the robotic dialer to dial the combination and open the lock?

about 3 seconds

Impressive. I thought it would take longer.