Arduino-Based Smart Parking System with IR Sensor Integration

Greetings, ElectroDuino enthusiasts! We’re delighted to have you back on our platform. Today’s focus revolves around the Smart Parking System Project, employing Arduino, IR Sensor, and Servo Motor technologies. Our discussion will encompass the Project Introduction, Conceptualization, Block Diagram, Necessary Components, Circuit Schematic, Operational Principles, and Arduino Programming.

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Introduction

In today’s urban landscape, locating available parking spaces poses a significant challenge due to congestion. The volume of vehicles on the roads far exceeds the available parking capacity. Upon entering a parking area, individuals often encounter the frustrating scenario of insufficient vacant slots to accommodate their cars, leading to time wastage. Additionally, navigating through large parking facilities to identify empty spots adds to the confusion and further consumes valuable time. Many of us have experienced these twin issues, which underscore the need for efficient parking management systems in all parking facilities. These systems aim to offer hassle-free and straightforward parking experiences.

To address this pressing concern, we will outline a “Smart Parking System Project” in this tutorial. This project is designed to alleviate the aforementioned challenges by providing drivers with real-time information on parking space availability, thus minimizing time wastage during the parking process.

Smart Parking System Project Concept

This project of a smart parking system encompasses an Arduino microcontroller, six IR sensors, a servo motor, and an LCD display. The Arduino serves as the central control unit for the entire system. Two IR sensors are positioned at the entry and exit points to detect vehicles entering and leaving the parking area, while the remaining four sensors monitor parking slot availability. The servo motor operates the entry and exit gates. Additionally, an LCD display at the entrance indicates the availability of parking slots.

Upon a vehicle’s arrival at the parking gate, the display continually updates to reflect the number of vacant slots. If slots are available, the system activates the servo motor to open the entry gate. As a vehicle occupies a slot, the display indicates that the slot is filled.

In the event that all parking slots are occupied, the system displays a message indicating full capacity and does not open the gate.

Block Diagram of Smart Parking System Project

Circuit Diagram of Smart Parking System Project using Arduino and IR Sensor

Working Principle

Once all components have been assembled according to the circuit diagram and the code has been uploaded to the Arduino board, position the sensors and servo motor accurately.

This project consists of four parking slots, with IR sensors 3, 4, 5, and 6 placed at slots 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. IR sensors 1 and 2 are positioned at the entry and exit gates, respectively, with a servo motor controlling the common entry and exit gate. Additionally, an LCD display is positioned near the entry gate.

The system utilizes IR sensors 3, 4, 5, and 6 to determine parking slot occupancy and IR sensors 1 and 2 to detect vehicle arrivals at the gate.

Initially, when all parking slots are vacant, the LCD display indicates that all slots are empty.

Upon a vehicle’s arrival at the parking gate, IR sensor 1 detects it, allowing the vehicle to enter by opening the servo barrier. Once the vehicle occupies a slot, the LED display indicates that the slot is now occupied. This system automatically accommodates up to four vehicles.

If the parking slots are all occupied, the system closes the entrance gate servo barrier and displays that slots 1 through 4 are full.

When a vehicle leaves a slot and approaches the gate, IR sensor 2 detects it, prompting the system to open the servo barrier. The LED display then indicates that the slot is vacant, allowing for the entry of a new vehicle.

Arduino Code

#include <Servo.h> //includes the servo library
#include <Wire.h> 
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h> //includes LiquidCrystal_I2C library
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 20, 4);

Servo myservo;

#define ir_enter 2
#define ir_back  4

#define ir_car1 5
#define ir_car2 6
#define ir_car3 7
#define ir_car4 8

int S1=0, S2=0, S3=0, S4=0 ;
int flag1=0, flag2=0; 
int slot = 6;  

void setup(){
Serial.begin(9600);
// initialize digital pins as input.
pinMode(ir_car1, INPUT);
pinMode(ir_car2, INPUT);
pinMode(ir_car3, INPUT);
pinMode(ir_car4, INPUT);

pinMode(ir_enter, INPUT);
pinMode(ir_back, INPUT);
  
myservo.attach(9); // Servo motor pin connected to D9
myservo.write(90); // sets the servo at 0 degree position

// Print text on display
lcd.begin(20, 4);  
lcd.setCursor (0,1);
lcd.print("    Smart Car   ");
lcd.setCursor (0,2);
lcd.print(" Parking System ");
delay (2000);
lcd.clear();   

Read_Sensor();

int total = S1+S2+S3+S4;
slot = slot-total; 
}

void loop()
{

 Read_Sensor();

 lcd.setCursor (0,0);
 lcd.print("   Have Slot: "); 
 lcd.print(slot);
 lcd.print("    ");  

 lcd.setCursor (0,1);
  if(S1==1)
   {
    lcd.print("S1:Fill ");
   }
  else
   {
    lcd.print("S1:Empty");
   }

 lcd.setCursor (10,1);
  if(S2==1)
   {
    lcd.print("S2:Fill ");
    }
  else
   {
    lcd.print("S2:Empty");
    }

 lcd.setCursor (0,2);
  if(S3==1)
   {
    lcd.print("S3:Fill ");
    }
  else
   {
    lcd.print("S3:Empty");
    }

 lcd.setCursor (10,2);
  if(S4==1)
   {
    lcd.print("S4:Fill ");
    }
  else
   {
    lcd.print("S4:Empty");
    }
    
/* Servo Motor Control
***********************/
  if(digitalRead (ir_enter) == 0 && flag1==0) // read degital data from IR sensor1
   {
    if(slot>0)
     {
      flag1=1;
      if(flag2==0)
       {
        myservo.write(180); 
        slot = slot-1;
        }
     }
    else
     {
      lcd.setCursor (0,0);
      lcd.print(" Sorry Parking Full ");  
      delay(1500);
      }   
   }

  if(digitalRead (ir_back) == 0 && flag2==0) // read degital data from IR sensor2
   {
    flag2=1;
    if(flag1==0)
     {
      myservo.write(180); // sets the servo at 180 degree position
      slot = slot+1;
      }
   }

  if(flag1==1 && flag2==1)
   {
    delay (1000);
    myservo.write(90); // sets the servo at 90 degree position
    flag1=0, flag2=0;
    }
    delay(1);
}

void Read_Sensor()
{
 S1=0, S2=0, S3=0, S4=0;
 if(digitalRead(ir_car1) == 0){S1=1;} // read degital data from IR sensor3
 if(digitalRead(ir_car2) == 0){S2=1;} // read degital data from IR sensor4
 if(digitalRead(ir_car3) == 0){S3=1;} // read degital data from IR sensor5
 if(digitalRead(ir_car4) == 0){S4=1;} // read degital data from IR sensor6
}