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Design And Construction Of A Microcontroller Based T-Junction Traffic Light Controller

Electrical Electronics Engineering | Industrial Physics | Physics

The design and construction of a microcontroller-based T-junction traffic light controller represent a sophisticated intersection management system. This innovative traffic control system leverages the capabilities of a microcontroller to efficiently regulate vehicular movement at a T-junction. By integrating sensors and programming logic, the controller dynamically adapts to the real-time traffic conditions, optimizing the flow of vehicles and minimizing congestion. The implementation involves meticulous engineering, combining electronic components, such as microcontrollers, sensors, and LED lights, with a robust software algorithm. Through careful calibration and testing, the T-junction traffic light controller achieves a seamless coordination of signal transitions, ensuring a smooth and safe traffic flow. This technologically advanced solution addresses the complexities of managing intersecting roads, providing an effective and responsive traffic management system for urban environments.

T-junction traffic light controller is such a device that will play a significant role in controlling traffic at junctions, to ease the expected increased rush at such junctions and reduce to minimum disorderliness that may arise, as well as allowing the pedestrians a right of the way at intervals rather than being struck down when in a hurry to cross the roads. Such an electrical system with a touch of electronics that control the flow of traffic in a pre-determined sequential pattern at a junction, has its diagram comprising of different components. The power supply unit provides the control unit with specified voltage from primary source. The pulse generator consisting of a timer generates pulse for the system. The clock or counter moderates the signal that enters the decoding logic system. The display unit of each stand consists of led, the first is red in colour, the second is amber in colour and the last is green in colour.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In the ever fast-growing world of business and technology today, there has become an increasing column of vehicles on every road in different place of the world. Traffic control light has become a very effective tool for sequential control of the teaming number of vehicles on the road to avert what would have been a recurrent saga of ghastly accidents at the junctions. There have been many ways of achieving this, uppermost among these being the employment of electronic monitoring circuits that which is controlled by presto clock.

In developed countries, the employment of traffic personnel who would be jumped up and down at the centre of the junction just for the motorists to acknowledge their rigorous signs has long come of age. In developing countries where 24 hours traffic flow is involved, many societies are adopting the usage of the traffic light control. The advantage offered by this method of traffic control cannot be over emphasized. For one, it offers a more advanced technology that is less prone to miscalculation and its regrettable occurrence. They stand out better at night, then offer illumination to the immediate surroundings which become important for security purpose and in general add to the entire aesthetic beauty of night life.

The technology behind the design may vary from place to place, but the fact remains that in all cases an electronic (logic) circuit is made to control a power circuit. The electronic logic circuit is normally composed of the basic digital components of electronic design which includes oscillators, timers, counters, decoders, microprocessors, etcetera, while the power circuit includes the lamps and the drivers circuits. The digital circuit is designed to give an output commensurate to the design choice. The power supply unit is designed to generate a steady supply voltage which is used to power the logic circuit.

The output consists of a series of lamps which are expected to light in a particular sequence depending on the design. By the logic circuit design, the lamps are made to come up in a particular sequence depending on the design with each colour meaning different motional status of the vehicles in that column.

1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The traffic on our roads, especially intra-city traffic due to increasing number of cars grow by the day and unless adequate steps are taken to control the situation, we shall soon meet with circumstances we do not bargain for. That the innumerable traffic junctions in the country by far out-number the staff strength of the traffic wardens available and that the traffic wardens even where they are enough to control all the junctions cannot do so throughout the day is not in doubt. Traffic control at T.junctions or elsewhere ensures orderliness of movements of vehicles, goods and pedestrians while its absence strongly indicates chaos and most at times leads to accidents.
In the light of the above, it is imperative to recognize the need to compliment the physical exhausting efforts of the traffic wardens. In doing so, steps to be taken should assume permanence in nature rather than any ad-hoc exercise. Such is the role expected to be played by an installed operational road junction traffic controller.

This project –DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A THREE WAY JUNCTION TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROLLER is such a device that will play significant role in controlling traffic at junctions to ease the expected increased rush at such junctions and reduce to minimum such disorderliness that may arise as well as allowing the pedestrians a right of the way at intervals rather than being struck down when in a hurry to cross the roads. Such an electrical system with a touch of electronics that controls the flow of traffic in a pre-determine sequential pattern at a junction has its diagram below with blocks representing distinct units.[1]

The power supply unit provides the control unit with specified dc voltage from primary source, which is a 240v, 50Hz ac supply, from public power system. The pulse generator containing a timer generates pulse for the system. The clock or counter moderates the signal that enters the decoding logic system. The display unit of each stand consists of three bulbs Red in colour showing STOP, three bulbs Amber in colour showing GET READY and three bulbs Green in colour showing MOVE.

1.2 AIM OF THE PROJECT

Going by the rapid advancement in technology all over the world, the need for better ways of solving a problem keep coming up every day. Necessity is the mother of invention. It has become imperative for societies, companies, industries, business ventures, clubs etc to offer 24 hour service, hence thereby has to be a way of controlling the teaming column of vehicles which convey both individuals and goods to different destinations of that type. The most elegant way of directing the motorists is by the use of traffic light control. This type of control serves a dual purpose. In the day type it directs the vehicles, whereas it turns out to additionally illuminating the environment in the night, so that at very far distance, its effect is noticeably felt, conveying its message to an oncoming vehicle very far from the point.

The project is therefore aimed at building a prototype three -way traffic light control circuit.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

The main objective of the study includes:

To investigate the practicality of the theoretical knowledge about these components to be used.
To experiment on the compatibility of the working relation between components to be used.
To investigate the extent to which the design and construction of the control unit can be useful to mankind.
To investigate the immediate usefulness of the control system as complimentary to traffic wardens.

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

At many of our busiest street and highway intersections, there are traffic lights – green for go, yellow or orange for caution as the lights change, red for stop. Primarily, the purpose is simply to facilitate the safe movement of cars, avoiding collisions.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

The project design work signifies a lot in modern industrial electronics. This design that replaced the manually used agent which is the traffic warden positioned at different traffic junctions.

In most developed towns in Nigeria, this system is employed at every T-junction, so that traffic jam or hold up will be highly controlled and also accidents at this junction are highly minimized.

In advance countries, the type of traffic light employed are inform of robot whose eyes serves as the visual display unit (VDU) when the traffic rule is violated the error detector is effected by the mechanical action of the robot.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The scope of this project is to enlighten all electronics students on the use of microcontroller base traffic light (3-ways) and timer system in T-junction. On the practical usage it is limited to the laboratory used for reference purpose. The larger application of this project work is found in most of our mega cities like Abuja, Lagos, Calabar, Enugu etc, to control and manage heavy traffic congestion.

1.7 ADVATAGES OF THE PROJECT

Traffic control signals provide for an orderly movement of traffic.
They help in reducing the frequency of an accident of some special nature i.e. of right angles accidents.
They intercept heavy traffic to allow other traffic to cross the road intersection safety.
They provide authority to the drivers to move with confidence.
They control the speed of vehicles on main as well as on secondary roads.
They direct traffic on different routes without excessive congestion.
The provide economy over manual control at the intersection.

1.8 PROBLEM OF THE PROJECT

Traffic control signals may result in a re-entrant collision of vehicles.
They may cause a delay in the quick movement of traffic.

1.9 LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT

I. Cost of Traffic Signals: One of the important of traffic signals is the cost, especially when a less expensive stop sign will do. The cost of installing and maintaining a traffic signal varies, depending on the state.

II. This device is only to be used in three-Lane traffic intersection

1.10 METHODOLOGY

Priority was given to the nature of the junction and how far away they are at different seasons of the year. A lot of design research was carried out on digital logic design and choice of digital families. Data books were consulted to make the most suitable choice of components at the most reasonable cost.

After the design, a market survey was conducted and some components used in the design were not obtainable in the market. Hence, alternative components had to be used and the circuit redesigned. The subsequent stage involves physically realizing the design work, constructing and packaging the entire circuitry on the frame. Finally, he work was given a fine finish and tested.

1.11 PROJECT WORK ORGANISATION

The various stages involved in the development of this project have been properly put into five chapters to enhance comprehensive and concise reading. In this project thesis, the project is organized sequentially as follows:

Chapter one of this work is on the introduction to this study. In this chapter, the background, significance, scope, objective, aim, purpose, advantages, limitation and problem, of this work was discussed.

Chapter two is on literature review of the study. In this chapter, all the literature pertaining to this work was reviewed.

Chapter three is on design methodology. In this chapter all the method involved during the design and construction were discussed.

Chapter four is on testing analysis. All testing that result accurate functionality was analyzed.

Chapter five is on conclusion, recommendation and references.

System Design

The first step in designing a traffic light controller is to understand the requirements and constraints of the system. For a T-junction, the controller needs to manage traffic flow from three directions, typically referred to as North-South, East-West, and the minor road (the road joining the T-junction). The controller should sequence the traffic lights to ensure smooth and safe movement of vehicles through the intersection.

Requirements:

Safety: Ensure that conflicting traffic movements are adequately controlled to prevent accidents.
Efficiency: Minimize delays for all directions of traffic flow.
Scalability: Design the system to handle future expansions or modifications.
Reliability: Ensure the system operates consistently under various conditions.

Components Needed:

Microcontroller: Choose a microcontroller with sufficient I/O pins, processing power, and suitable communication interfaces. Popular choices include Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or specialized microcontrollers like PIC or AVR.
Traffic Lights: LED modules or bulbs for each direction of traffic.
Sensors: Optional, but may include sensors for detecting vehicle presence or traffic density.
Power Supply: Sufficient power to drive the microcontroller and the traffic lights.
Casing and Enclosure: To protect the electronics from environmental factors.

Circuit Design

Once you have selected the components, you need to design the circuit that connects them together. This includes wiring the traffic lights to the microcontroller, connecting any sensors, and providing power.

Circuit Components:

Microcontroller: Central component for controlling the traffic lights.
Traffic Light Modules: LED modules for each direction of traffic.
Relays/Transistors: To switch high voltage/current for the traffic lights.
Power Supply: DC power supply to power the microcontroller and the lights.
Sensors (Optional): Such as infrared sensors or ultrasonic sensors for vehicle detection.

Programming

The microcontroller needs to be programmed to control the traffic lights according to the predefined sequence. This involves writing code that manages the timing of each light phase and responds to inputs from any sensors.

Programming Considerations:

Traffic Light Sequencing: Define the sequence of green, yellow, and red lights for each direction.
Timing: Determine the duration for each phase of the traffic lights.
Sensor Integration (Optional): If sensors are used, implement logic to respond to sensor inputs.
Error Handling: Include error handling routines to ensure the system responds appropriately to unexpected conditions.

Testing and Debugging

Before deploying the traffic light controller, thorough testing is essential to ensure its proper functionality and reliability. Testing involves verifying that the lights sequence correctly, the timings are accurate, and any sensors are responding as expected.

Testing Steps:

Functional Testing: Verify that the traffic lights sequence correctly through each phase.
Timing Analysis: Measure the duration of each phase to ensure it meets the design specifications.
Sensor Testing (If Applicable): Validate that sensors detect vehicles accurately and trigger the appropriate response.
Stress Testing: Test the system under various traffic conditions to ensure stability and reliability.

Deployment

Once testing is complete, the traffic light controller can be deployed at the T-junction. Ensure that it is securely mounted and protected from environmental factors such as moisture and temperature extremes.

Deployment Considerations:

Mounting: Securely mount the controller in a weatherproof enclosure.
Power Supply: Connect the controller to a stable power source.
Maintenance: Establish a schedule for regular maintenance and inspection to ensure continued functionality.

Conclusion

Designing and constructing a microcontroller-based T-junction traffic light controller involves careful planning, component selection, programming, testing, and deployment. By following the steps outlined in this guide and considering the specific requirements of your T-junction, you can create an efficient and reliable traffic management system