Biohacking. Body modifications. A greater integration between the human body and technology. Cyborgs! The world has already legally recognized one, and some artists have followed truly extreme paths, but what we have here today is more… practical. An engineer named AmieDD owns a Tesla Model 3, which essentially replaces traditional keys with an RFID chip on a card. What did Amie do? She removed the card from the equation and implanted the encapsulated chip in her right arm.
The Tesla Model 3: A DIY Favorite
Beyond the difficulties it faced in the early stages of production, the Tesla Model 3 has become one of the preferred cars among YouTubers and DIY enthusiasts. Not too far back, Simone Giertz took her Model 3 and transformed it into the TRUCKLA truck, which reportedly is working at full speed. There are many people out there interested in the general design of the Model 3, and the functioning of its main aspects, including small details like door opening.
Ditching the Key Card
The Tesla Model 3 uses compatible smartphones and RFID chip cards to allow entry and ignition. The user can associate multiple cards without difficulty, so why not get rid of the card and use that chip directly? The small piece of silicon and copper antenna don't tell us much, but engineer, programmer, and cosplayer AmieDD (Amie Danielle Dansby) opted for something more interesting and risky: turning it into an implant.
Note from the editor: Blood, so NSFW.
The Implant Procedure
The first step was to separate the card from the RFID chip, and for that she used a good dose of acetone (the process took about an hour). Then she sent the chip to the folks at Dangerous Things, which encapsulated it in biopolymer, very similar to what is used in identification implants for pets. When talking to some doctors, Amie encountered resistance, and they did not agree to perform the implant.
Finally, she reached Shaman Modifications, a studio dedicated to piercings and tattoos. An approximate calculation for the chip location, complete sterilization, some anesthesia, incision, and the chip ended up under her skin, without incidents. Now she can open and start her Model 3 with a slight movement of her right arm (she doesn't show it in the videos, but she confirmed it via comments).
Not Her First Implant
This is not the first time Amie does something like this. In fact, she already has another implant in her left hand, which she uses as access control. At first she thought she could read the Tesla card code and do a complete transfer to the chip, but she had no luck. Amie documented a good part of the project on Hackaday, however, it's not a bad idea to follow her YouTube channel and her Instagram profile to learn more.
