The product idea that we have decided on is a SafeShelf. It is essentially a safe hidden in a shelf and placed anywhere in the house and can be used for its original purpose of a shelf and intended purpose to hide valuables. It will be equipped with biometric security such as facial recognition software and fingerprint scanning. This will increase the safety of the objects contained in the shelf if a robber was to ever stumble upon it. It is also more indiscernible as hiding the flat surface of a scanner and a micro – camera is an achievable task and will make it appear as a normal shelf. The use of keys and combination codes are soon to be outdated due to the advancement in biometric technology that will make it easier for it users to operate and unlock their safes especially the elderly who are increasingly prone to being forgetful.
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Rizz Khalifa
Innovation Fest 2025
About Rizz Khalifa
UN SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Empowered and Driven:
Delivering Solutions for Global Issues
Our product will influence the 11th Sustainable and Development goal – Sustainable Cities and Communities – which aims to make cities and human settlements more safe. We will have achieved that by making it more difficult for thieves and robbers to find valuables which will disincentive them into breaking into houses. This also links with the 16th Sustainable and Development goal: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. This goal promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and to provide access to justice for all. The SafeShelf supports this goal by helping reduce the impact of crime and theft by making valuables are harder to find or access. Alongside the biometric authentication, the real – time alerts, empowers individuals to take preventive actions such as calling the authorities and allow them to do their job before any harm is done.
THE STORY BEGAN
DESIGN STORY
Challenges
Our identified problem definition is the security and protection of valuable possessions kept within a home. The appropriate audience are the elderly who have a higher probability experiencing cognitive limitations that can make traditional security measures less effective. Break ins are also more likely to happen to the elderly and loss of important and sensitive documents can leave them in a depressed and anxious state. The produce idea is also to provide convenience and accessibility for users as we integrate modern technology and rid the use of keys and combination codes, which could be easily forgotten or duplicated. It will nurture a more safe and reliable environment as users are comfortable in use of it and the camouflage using the idea of “hiding in plain sight”.
Solution
Our proposed solution is our product the SafeShelf. The shelf acts home decor and appears to be a regular shelf, however it will be used as a hidden, high - tech safe. It will give the elderly peace of mind that their valuable are safe in case of a break - in. It is also equipped with a electromagnetic lock and an uninterrupted power supply, which ensure both security and functionality even during power outages and will provide 24 hour protection and use for owners.
Use Case
An elderly individual wants to store emergency cash, their passport and sensitive documents such as her will. They can unlock it using fingerprint scanning or facial recognition, which is easily used compared to using keys or number codes. If someone tries to tamper with it, the system will sent a real- time alert to the phone which will allows for an immediate response to a relative or the authorities. The camera integrated in the shelf will make it easier to discern whether the issue was an inquisitive family member to a thief who broke into the house.
TECHNOLOGIES
List of Essential Tools and Technologies
THE PROCESS
PROTOTYPE DESIGN
The prototype is still at the early stages at this time, designed to demonstrate the core functionality and user experience. The outward appearance will be a wooden shelf with dimensions of 80cmW x 12cm X 8cmH, which will hide a hidden safe.
Inside the prototype will be a:
– A servo motor which activates the opening mechanism
– A electromagnetic lock to secure the compartment
– A Raspberry Pi to control the biometric sensors.
– A basic Android app interface
There will also be a hidden fingerprint scanning integrated into the outside of the shelf, alongside an embedded camera to allow for facial recognition
PLEDGE
Impact on the market
SafeShelf enters two dynamic markets: home security and furniture. These markets are already populated with products such as:
• Traditional safes
• Smart locks and biometric security devices
• Concealed compartments in furniture
To succeed, SafeShelf must carve out a distinct identity. It does so by offering an all-in-one solution that combines:
• Practical home or office furniture
• Secure, biometric-access storage
• Aesthetic minimalism and space-saving features
Trends and Consumer Demand
Several emerging trends favor SafeShelf’s success:
• Multifunctional Furniture: Consumers increasingly look for furniture that serves multiple purposes, especially in small spaces.
• Smart Home Integration: As homes become smarter, consumers seek products that enhance safety and convenience through technology.
• Discreet Security: Many users prefer security solutions that do not draw attention or appear too industrial.
RESULTS
FINAL PRODUCT
At the beginning of the semester, we first started on our weekly submissions such as the Bronze Award and the development of our LinkedIn accounts. We then decided on what our product should be by brainstorming and after a few options from a smart fridge to a smart vending machine, we landed on the unique idea of a SmartShelf. We introduced ourselves and what we were confident in and what each of us can contribute to the task and determined who will do what task. James would be in charge of the hardware construction, Nabeel would lead the Python and software integration, Varsha would do the product design using Tinkercad, lastly Obaid and Rosita would complete the poster, website and review meetings whilst providing help for the any others. On week 10, we brought together all the components needed and finalised the design process and how the software would be integrated into the product. Obaid and Rosita also designed the poster and worked on submitting the website content whilst the other three team members focused solely on the product development and the final prototype.
