Magic Bands

Luke Berndt made a reuse of the RFID enabled Magic Bands from Disney World using a USB powered RFID reader connected to Raspberry Pi.

A multinational mass media entertainers Disney has made RFID enabled magic wrist bands which operate on 2.4GHz operating frequency, for the easy access of their services at Mydesiny. By these bands, a visitor/individual can unlock hotel door, buy a meal and even use it for parking.

Luke Berndt has made an eye on it and decided to make a complete magic band enabled infrastructure home. Soon after, Luke sensed a glimpse of toughness and decided to start small and make some LED’s blink. Disney has done all the tough works by making up a band and FCC papers. The band has 2 radios, one among the two is RFID. Having knowledge of all this Luke hacked a Magic Band and reader using Raspberry Pi-2, a Unicorn Hat, and a USB RFID reader. The RFID reader doesn’t come with the software for Linux, but the LibNFC has everything you looking for and fully support the SCL3711.

Luke didn’t put too much effort on his programming, he just hacked both the example from program LibNFC and Demo C program for the Unicorn Hat, and coded for the ID number of his bracelets and play different LED animation when RFID start to read. To check in, he tried to put it in a shoe box cut out of a window and for a better viewing angle he placed through Velum. With all these connections, it is easy to see how it could extend to be useful.

This DIY practice can also make you to learn how to create a Smart lock, or fire off system and some internet task when a card or band is touched.