Hello everyone, welcome back to Techatronic. Today, we’re diving into a highly practical project – the Bidirectional Counter. Our goal with this project is to tally individuals passing through the sensor. Bidirectional counters have become increasingly prevalent, especially aiding us during the pandemic. They find specific utility in seminar halls and conference rooms, accurately recording the total number of people entering or exiting an area. For instance, in a scenario where there’s a limit of 100 people allowed in a designated space, this counter automates the counting process without requiring human intervention.
Introduction
This project functions as a people-counting system facilitated by sensors. Termed a bidirectional counter, it employs two sensors—one positioned at each side—to effectively tally individuals entering and exiting. A 16×2 LCD display serves as the project’s output, showcasing the count of individuals inside and outside the area, along with the net count of people within the room.
Construction of bidirectional Counter
Below, we will provide all the necessary information and materials required to construct this Arduino counter project. It is essential to adhere to the provided instructions and utilize the given data to ensure successful implementation of the project. Once the circuit and code assembly are completed, replicate the circuit layout exactly as depicted in the accompanying image.
Bidirectional visitor counter using Arduino Counter Circuit diagram
Bidirectional Counter Code
This project was completed using Arduino Uno, employing C/C++ programming language within the Arduino IDE software. We’re providing the code sketch here, which you can upload directly to your Arduino Uno board.
#include const int rs=12, en=11, d4=5, d5=4, d6=3, d7=2 ;
const int in=6,out=7;
int temp=0,femp=0,wemp=0;
LiquidCrystal lcd(rs,en,d4,d5,d6,d7);
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
lcd.begin(20,4);
pinMode(in,INPUT);
pinMode(out,INPUT);
pinMode(8, INPUT_PULLUP);
lcd.print(“bidirectional counter”);
lcd.setCursor(0,1);
lcd.print(“IN”);
lcd.setCursor(6,1);
lcd.print(femp);
lcd.setCursor(0,2);
lcd.print(“OUT”);
lcd.setCursor(6,2);
lcd.print(wemp);
lcd.setCursor(0,3);
lcd.print(“NET”);
lcd.setCursor(6,3);
lcd.print(temp);
}
void loop() {
int m=digitalRead(8);
if(m==1)
{
if(digitalRead(in)==1)
{
delay(100);
if(digitalRead(out)==1)
{
temp=temp+1;
femp=femp+1;
wemp;
lcd.clear();
lcd.print(“HOPE SECURITY”);
lcd.setCursor(0,1);
lcd.print(“IN”);
lcd.setCursor(6,1);
lcd.print(femp);
lcd.setCursor(0,2);
lcd.print(“OUT”);
lcd.setCursor(6,2);
lcd.print(wemp);
lcd.setCursor(0,3);
lcd.print(“NET”);
lcd.setCursor(6,3);
lcd.print(temp);
delay(1000);
}}
else if(digitalRead(out)==1)
{ delay(100);
if(digitalRead(in)==1)
{
temp=temp-1;
femp;
wemp=wemp+1;
// if(temp<=0)
//{temp=0;
//wemp=0;
//femp=0;
// }
lcd.clear();
lcd.print(“HOPE SECURITY”);
lcd.setCursor(0,1);
lcd.print(“IN”);
lcd.setCursor(6,1);
lcd.print(femp);
lcd.setCursor(0,2);
lcd.print(“OUT”);
lcd.setCursor(6,2);
lcd.print(wemp);
lcd.setCursor(0,3);
lcd.print(“NET”);
lcd.setCursor(6,3);
lcd.print(temp);
delay(1000);
}}
}
else
{lcd.clear();
lcd.print(“HOPE SECURITY”);
femp=0;
temp=0;
wemp=0;
lcd.setCursor(0,1);
lcd.print(“IN”);
lcd.setCursor(6,1);
lcd.print(femp);
lcd.setCursor(0,2);
lcd.print(“OUT”);
lcd.setCursor(6,2);
lcd.print(wemp);
lcd.setCursor(0,3);
lcd.print(“NET”);
lcd.setCursor(6,3);
lcd.print(temp);
}
}
Bidirectional Counter Working
The operation of a Bidirectional counter is straightforward. Initially, understanding the functionality of each component from the list of components is essential. Let’s start by discussing the sensor. In this setup, we utilize an IR sensor designed to detect the presence of an individual within its range. Whenever someone approaches the sensor, it promptly detects their presence and transmits this information. For a comprehensive understanding of the IR sensor’s operation, detailed information is available on my website.
Moving on, let’s delve into the controller or the central processing unit (CPU) employed in this project. We’ve selected the Arduino Uno as the controlling unit. Naturally, a robust controller is necessary to manage all aspects of this project, from acquiring input to processing and generating output. Serving as the project’s brain, the Arduino Uno interacts with the IR sensor, receiving input from it. This setup effectively interfaces the IR sensor with the Arduino, which acts as the counter. As the Arduino receives input from the IR sensor, it proceeds to process this information and responds accordingly based on predefined conditions.
The concluding segment of this system involves the utilization of Arduino, serving as the output component for this project. Arduino plays a crucial role in transmitting instructions to the display, dictating what should be showcased on it.
We’ve integrated a 16×2 LCD display to exhibit comprehensive details regarding the project and the count of individuals entering and leaving a room. This liquid crystal display operates by using analog signals to illuminate crystals, displaying the desired numbers or letters. Should you encounter any difficulties in connecting the display, please refer to our guide on connecting a 16×2 display with Arduino.
To comprehend the functionality of the bidirectional counter project, it employs two sensors—S1 and S2. When an individual crosses the S1 sensor initially, the system awaits the crossing of the S2 sensor. Only when both conditions are met does the project tally the person entering the sensor. Conversely, if the S2 sensor is crossed first followed by the S1 sensor, the project registers the person exiting the system or room. This delineates the operational mechanism of the bidirectional counter. We’ve furnished comprehensive details encompassing the code and circuitry for the bidirectional visitor counter using Arduino.
Application of Bidirectional Counter
Utilize in a seminar hall for people counting purposes.
Apply in a conference hall to track attendance.
Suitable for use in school and college classrooms.
Also applicable for monitoring parking spaces.
