The project documents a fully automated smart mailbox built by Re-Crafting DIY. It integrates advanced electronics to solve practical issues like package theft, weather damage, and inadequate storage space. By repurposing an old car’s wiper motor for the door mechanism, the mailbox features a heavy-duty, motorized front door controlled by a central brain. It might have been a little too much power, but it worked fine.
The main controller used is the Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3 combined with a Grove Vision AI V2 module. This setup enables real-time computer vision, allowing the mailbox to identify the postman and detect when a package is present. Once a delivery is recognized, the microcontroller triggers a relay to operate the motor, granting safe access. To further enhance functionality, a built-in weight-sensing platform notifies the user through Home Assistant when a package has been successfully dropped off.
Beyond basic automation, the build incorporates an exterior button that provides an audio feedback of a recorded 'thank you' message for the postman. Accessible from both the front for deliveries and the rear for retrieval, the finished mailbox serves as both a high-tech experiment and a reliable security solution. While the project was an exercise in over-engineering for the sake of learning, it demonstrates the potential for accessible AI and IoT hardware to modernize everyday household objects.
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