Uploaded December 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is a demonstration of the wiring and Arduino code required to use a cheap optical fingerprint recognition module (often labelled as DY50 or AS608). The sensor is surprisingly accurate and reliable, and compares a scanned finger to a database of up to 129 registered fingerprints. If a match is found, the ID of the corresponding fingerprint is sent over a serial connection, which can easily be read using an Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or other microprocessor.
Note that most Escape Room "fingerprint detection" security panels are not genuine - they rely on magnets, RFID tags, or other tricks - this sensor actually requires you to scan a real human finger! As such, it might require a little thought as to how you incorporate this into a puzzle - but it would be very neat to, say, have players register their fingerprints early on the game (or perhaps even in the pre-game briefing?) and then require them to have them scanned at a later point in the game. By installing multiple fingerprint scanners at different locations, you could even create a puzzle that required particular players to be the ones that performed certain interactions, undisputedly identified by their fingerprints!
The sensor can be purchased from, e.g. banggood.com/custlink/3D3KQEssbu
Get the code at github.com/playfultechnology/arduino-fingerprint-recogniser
Part of my Escape Room Tech Advent Calender for 2019!
For more projects, see patreon.com/playfultech
This is a demonstration of the wiring and Arduino code required to use a cheap optical fingerprint recognition module (often labelled as DY50 or AS608). The sensor is surprisingly accurate and reliable, and compares a scanned finger to a database of up to 129 registered fingerprints. If a match is found, the ID of the corresponding fingerprint is sent over a serial connection, which can easily be read using an Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or other microprocessor.
Note that most Escape Room "fingerprint detection" security panels are not genuine - they rely on magnets, RFID tags, or other tricks - this sensor actually requires you to scan a real human finger! As such, it might require a little thought as to how you incorporate this into a puzzle - but it would be very neat to, say, have players register their fingerprints early on the game (or perhaps even in the pre-game briefing?) and then require them to have them scanned at a later point in the game. By installing multiple fingerprint scanners at different locations, you could even create a puzzle that required particular players to be the ones that performed certain interactions, undisputedly identified by their fingerprints!
The sensor can be purchased from, e.g. banggood.com/custlink/3D3KQEssbu
Get the code at github.com/playfultechnology/arduino-fingerprint-recogniser
Part of my Escape Room Tech Advent Calender for 2019!
For more projects, see patreon.com/playfultech
