Tesla Model 3 owner unlocks car with her arm after implanting RFID chip in it

[RScottyL]

From https://electrek.co/2019/08/10/tesla-model-3-unlock-arm-implanting-rfid-chip/:

There many ways to unlock a Tesla Model 3, keycard, key fob, Tesla app, and one owner found a new one with a biohack: implanting a RFID chip into her arm to unlock her Model 3 with it.

A biohacker going by ‘Amie DD‘ on Hackaday released a video (embedded below) about how she extracted the RFID chip out of her Model 3 keycard and created an implant that she injected into her arm.

While it may sound crazy to inject a piece of technology under your skin, it’s actually similar to the implants we inject pets to identify them.

Amie already had a RFID chip implanted in her hand and she thought that she could transfer the information from her Tesla keycard to her chip, but Tesla’s security systems prevented that.

Instead, she simply dissolved a keycard that was already working with her Model 3 and salvaged the RFID chip:

After that, she packaged the chip in a smaller format and encapsulated it inside a biopolymer that can be implanted inside her arm:

She then went to a body modification expert named Pineapple to safely implant the chip into her right arm:

 

[Akikiki]

What's next? Likely something like turning the RFID chip into a tongue stud and piercing the tip of the tongue. Then when both hands are full, the driver can simply lick the B Pillar to unlock the car.

 

[malcolm]

And when she sells the car she has to dig out the chip, right?

 

[PACEMD]

So that's how they do it. I thought Tesla was controlling my brain with radio waves........

 

[PACEMD]

And when she sells the car she has to dig out the chip, right?

Don't be absurd, sell the car arm included..........

 

[Tam]

...implant...

It's brilliant!

There are people who don't like technology like the way they don't like making driving automated because they prefer enjoying the task themselves.

Others love technology and find a way to meld it into human: A hybrid.

They embrace technology like Crutches to help them to walk, Contact Lens to help them to see, Hip Implants to bring back their mobility...

It's up to people who feel comfortable with technology and how far do they want to go.

Some may feel it makes sense to get a heart pacemaker implant because it's a medical necessity but an implant for your Model 3?

But I can see why she does it!

It is so yesterday to have a whole bunch of keys and fobs with her.

So she already got RFID chip implanted in her hand for her doors and phone and other stuff. Each time she needs to unlock a new one, she can program that new device with her current implanted RFID chip. No surgeries needed, just reprogramming.

Except for Model 3! Tesla has placed security measures on its chip that even when transferred all those Java Applet info to hers, it just doesn't work!

So, she had to get that orginial Model 3 RFID implanted in her arm this time.

It's so convenient!

The downside:

1) On average, people keep their cars for 7 years. That means she needs to have another surgery to remove it by then. Unless of course, if Tesla Card Key are interchangeable and she can tap her arm at the new car's central console to reprogram it. Unless of course, if Tesla gets on the bandwagon and make it easier for secured RFID implants to be programmable.

Note that the average battery life for a heart pacemaker is also 6 to 7 years which then necessitates surgery for battery replacement. So keeping your car for 7 years and have surgery each time switching car sounds bad but not really if you compare that with pacemaker surgery.

2) It really bothers me that no medical, no science communities were involved in this process. She had to rely on a non-medical person to perform surgery. University, science community should involve and at least keep track or study RFID implant effect on human.

 

[Lucky13]

Cool, but it doesn't unlock on the passenger side or trunk so kind of weak. Not against it, just wish it had more functionality.

 

[Rottenapplr]

Wow I don’t think I could take this type of commitment to a car you can switch out but hey it’s there body.

 

[C141medic]

Freak

 

[Akikiki]

So, I see in the picture a bandage on her right forearm. I guess that's where it is. Wouldn't it be funny if every time she's in her car and reaches for her phone, the chip is seen by her console reader and it locks or unlocks the car. Sometimes you can't predict all the effects of something like this.

 

[daniel]

And when she sells the car she has to dig out the chip, right?

Nope. Go to settings on the screen and de-authorize the "card" in her arm. Assuming she doesn't want to be able to steal the car back. If she buys another Tesla Model 3, or some future Tesla that uses the same kind of card, she can program the new car to recognize the "card" in her arm. (If you lose your card you can buy a new card and program the car to recognize it. Likewise she could program a new Tesla to recognize her arm.)

It's a bit extreme, but she'll never have to worry about being locked out. Tattoos, green hair, a chip in her hand... what's another chip in her arm? Makes sense.

 

[JulienW]

I'm going to skip this and implant some wheels/engine on my feet and a lit-ion pack in my a$$.

 

[smartypnz]

Must be awkward 'handing' it over to a Valet.

I'll be quiet now....

 

[boaterva]

The comments on the Electrek article are like the worse (ok, you know what I mean) reddit thread.

This is a neat idea IF it worked like your phone. The way the card works, it’s no more that a car key permanently attached to you since you have to unlock the car and lock it manually each and every time. No thanks. Much rather have walk up unlock and walk away auto lock with my iPhone that works perfectly.

If there was a reason I could never carry a phone (environment, power, security, whatever) okay, perhaps. But that’s an extreme case.

Theoretically this is a nice experiment as you can program and reprogram the chip all you want, there’s nothing permanent about it. (Both on the car and human side.)

 

[Adam3]

The things people do for YouTube views

 

[MXWing]

Note that the average battery life for a heart pacemaker is also 6 to 7 years which then necessitates surgery for battery replacement. So keeping your car for 7 years and have surgery each time switching car sounds bad but not really if you compare that with pacemaker surgery.

One is to live and one is a dumb ass vanity project?

There’s critical things like curing cancer and there’s solutions looking for problems like this one.

As long as you need a phone for any reason it’s the most practical key for the immediate and near future.

 

[Akikiki]

If a lightning bolt hits her and magnetizes the chip in her arm, she'll have a hellva time getting through airport security with bolts and nuts sticking to her arm.

And the hits (not this one), just keep on comingggg.....

 

[NickleNiceness]

I've heard the button to open the front trunk is a bit hard to find

 

[Tam]

The things people do for YouTube views

She explained that her motive is to learn what the problems are that make people say it can not be done.

She wants to understand the problems and find a way to solve it.

Remember, this is not the first RFID implant that she has.

She's already got one in her hand to pair with other devices fine.

No one cared about her first surgery for her first RFID because it was just for other devices (her house door, phone...) without the name Tesla on it!

It's Tesla's fault that she went through a second surgery because of its security system.

 

[qdeathstar]

seems unnecessary. I’d rather implant a bluetooth chip me....