Debunking the myth of automated entry
Automated entry is the art of designing systems to ease the direction and access of people. I want to make it clear that automated entry is an art, not a science. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s math, specific codes and associated regulations. But, there’s more emphasis required from design to fulfill the needs of a community.
Whether that community is a:
- Single family home,
- Gated community,
- High-rise apartment community, or
- Condominium community.
Moreover, automated entry is about making sure sophisticated systems manage access control software. An example is allowing identified users access to specific places at the right time.
Factors every automatic entry installer must consider
Now, there’s a lot to consider when implementing an automated entry system. Many that the casual observer doesn’t consider. Things such as first responders. Everybody loves firemen. We all want to make sure that when there is an emergency the police officers can get to us. Automated entry systems have to be able to accommodate these situations. Additionally, trash trucks are a very real part of life. So are school buses and other high profile vehicles.
Imagine if a fireman or a police driver were unable to bypass an automated gate entry system? This would be a major issue for that community. While these examples may not all be part of the thick piece of the bell curve, if any one of them were unable to happen, this would be an ultimate fail. This is why the scope of importance transcends past residents and their guests. Which concern most people who live there, but it’s also about the service providers. It’s about the vendors. It’s about the again, first responders.
The art of automated entry
Now, this is where the art comes in. It blossoms with the process of anticipating subtle factors. The ability to think about all these things and ensure that a trash truck or a school bus can turn around. But keep in mind this also includes more urgent matters. Such as, can trash trucks, or school buses turn around? Can a fire truck maneuver? What if a driver experiences a denial when attempting to gain access? If someone has lived in that community before, would they be able to enter? Additionally, can they turn around without causing a backup of queued vehicles?
HeadlightStickers™ and automated entry: A match made in heaven
Integration dealers can pair HeadlightStickers™ with an automated entry system. In fact, this is what sparked the idea for Headlight Stickers. HeadlightStickers™ speak Wiegand out of the box. This means you can forget needing a Wiegand interface module which is required between the RFID reader and the access controller for most devices. Native access control enables this system to access any control platform. That is control platforms that speak 26-bit Wiegand. And there isn’t one that I know of that doesn’t speak 26-bit Wiegand. Thus, HeadlightSticker™ is your long-range RFID play for your access control needs.
We know that our users’ value:
- Directionality,
- Range control, and
- The ability to identify vehicles.
How do we know this? We know this because your managed access control software stores this information. If you want this information stored in the right place, a HeadlightSticker™ can do that.
The plentiful hiccups associated with automated entry systems are well known.
They consist of scenarios like this:
- I live in a community,
- Of course, I pay my association dues on time, and
- I pull up to the gate.
To my dismay, the gate doesn’t open.
That’s a problem!
Another common situation is pulling up to the gate and the gate is wide open, which is unacceptable. As we mentioned earlier, the purpose of an automated entry system is simple. It’s to connect the desired people with the appropriate facilities. We want to make sure that this happens. And we want to provide the technology to make sure that it happens every time. So that nobody runs into the of hiccups that we’re talking about now.
How to avoid automated entry hiccups
As you read this I’m sure you’re wondering, what about gate clickers? Clickers use batteries. Batteries, as we all know, die. Not only are they a huge carbon footprint, but they can be a nuisance to dispose of properly. When we take those batteries what do we do with them? We recycle them. Or at least you should. If you don’t, you’re in luck. HeadlightStickers™ don’t have batteries. They’re passive devices. Instead, they use the energy from the reader. They receive that energy, charge themselves up, and provide an identifiable code.
Now, what else do we know about batteries? They get weaker after each use. This means when I pull up to the gate with my fresh set of Duracell batteries in my clicker I can let five people who don’t live here in because five cars are stuck at the gate and I can open it from far back. Then six months or a year later, I can only let two people in who don’t live there. And then a year after that, I can only let one car in.
Consequently, sometime after that, I call the property management company. You bet I will say, “The gate broke, because my clicker isn’t working.” But the reality of it is what? My battery is dead! In reality, it has failed over time. Headlight Sticker is not going to do that. A Headlight Sticker will boast the same capabilities every time.
Furthermore, if you want to avoid these hiccups, move your community to the platform with the most progressive thinkers in the world. The Irvine Company, the Toll Brothers, and the Lennar companies are moving toward this technology. They’re installing it in almost every one of their new communities that has a gated entry.
