Design And Construction Of An Automatic Gate Using Radio Frequency Transmission

ABSTRACT

The security challenges being encountered in many places require electronic means of controlling access to communities, recreational centres, offices, and homes. The electronically controlled automated security access gate being proposed in this work helps to prevent an unwanted access to controlled environments. This is achieved mainly through the use of a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter-receiver pair. In the design a microcontroller is programmed to decode a given sequence of keys that is entered on a keypad and commands a transmitter module to send out this code as signal at a given radio frequency. Upon reception of this RF signal by the receiver module, another microcontroller activates a driver circuitry to operate the gate automatically. The codes for the microcontrollers were written in C language and were debugged and compiled using the KEIL Micro vision 4 integrated development environment. The resultant Hex files were programmed into the memories of the microcontrollers with the aid of a universal programmer. Software simulation was carried out using the Proteus Virtual System Modeling (VSM) version 7.7. A scaled-down prototype of the system was built and tested. The electronically controlled automated security access gate can be useful in providing security for homes, organizations, and automobile terminals. The four-character password required to operate the gate gives the system an increased level of security. Due to its standalone nature of operation the system is cheaper to maintain in comparison with a manually operated type.

 CHAPTER TWO

 Introduction

 The security situation in many parts of the world today leaves much to be desired. In Nigeria particularly, the prevalence of armed robbers and other groups that constitute nuisance to the society has led to the loss of lives and properties worth millions of dollars. Many of the attacks that led to the loss have occurred in the homes or in guarded compounds and the attacks took place in spite of the existence of seemingly impregnable security gates that were designed to ward off intruders [1]. The needs for electronically controlled gates that have superior security features to those operated manually thus exist and have been on the increase in recent times [2].

Many attempts have been made to design such gates with various types of security features. In the work by Shoewu and Baruwa [3] a microprocessor was used to monitor two gates which sense the approach of a vehicle. The gates automatically open, wait for a specified time and then close. It is clear that the features of these gates do not provide adequate security since any vehicle can gain entry into the compound. A system that provides efficient gate access and an estate control to perform the job of the gate security guard is discussed in the work by Lau and Choo [4]. The main pitfall of this system is that it uses a telephone to identify visitors; the telephone can be used by anyone who approaches the gate. The development of a computer-controlled security gate system explained by Arulogun et al. [5] allows privileged users to gain entry through a keyless door by using smart card authentication. It is true that smart cards can be stolen thus compromising the security of this system. An attacker only needs to acquire a valid smart card in order to gain entry through the door [6]. A low-cost private office access control system developed and discussed by Khan [7] permits a user with the correct password entered on a keypad to gain entry by controlling an electromagnetic door lock. The fact that passwords belonging to one individual can be learned by another without the owner’s permission is a major drawback of the system: the rogue can use the stolen password to gain entry into the system. Radio frequency identification (RFID) has been used in conjunction with microcontrollers to control gates to enable vehicles to pass through [8, 9]. Olatinwo and Shoewu [10] have described a system in which swing gates are controlled electronically using microcontrollers and infrared transmitters. This system is only required to close and open gates and has a very limited security feature. In the work done by Adewuyi et al. [11, 12] surveillance cameras are used to capture and recapture the face of the driver as well as vehicle plate numbers. These data are stored in a databank for future comparison with visitors who will only be able to gain entry into a compound through gates if the data match. The system has the disadvantage that users must have been properly documented to enable them pass through the gate.

The system that has been designed in this work uses microcontrollers and radio-frequency transmitter/receiver pair as major components. A microcontroller is programmed to decode a given sequence of keys that is entered on a keypad; the microcontroller commands a transmitter module to send out this code as signal at a given radio frequency. Upon reception of this RF signal by the receiver module, another microcontroller activates a driver circuitry to operate the gate automatically. Some advantages of the system over those described in [5], [6] and [7] include:

(i) It does not need close contact to control the gate; the control can be done from inside the car at a distance.

(ii) It operates as a stand-alone system and does not require a network provider for reception of signals.

(iii) The use of a keypad to generate the code necessary for the opening and closing of the gate enhances the security of the system since it requires very many trials by an intruder to succeed in breaking into the system.

(iv)The features of the system that are controlled by the firmware resident in the memory of the microcontrollers can be easily improved for future upgrade.

• BACKGROUND

Gates are commonly used nowadays at residential area. A gate is a point of entry to a space enclosed by walls, or an opening in a fence. Gates may prevent or control entry or exit, or they may be merely decorative. Today many gate doors are opened by an automated gate operator. Those gates come with many special features. The need for automatic gates has been on the increase in recent times. The system described here incorporates the use of actuator to control the movement of the gate automatically. The automatic gate described here automates the entrances to parking lots of residential homes, organizations, automobile terminus, and public car parks. It uses a remote control convenience to avoid the stress of manually opening and closing the gate. The technology used eliminates gate monitoring and manning by human beings. The gates have to perform gyrations by open, auto reverse, stop, fully close and fully stop. It provides convenient access and intelligent features that makes it distinct from all other gates which bring it so close to a security device. Those gates come with different type of mechanism such as sliding, swing, folding, and barrier gate. Those mechanisms have their own working principle and feature but, automatic gate design seem limited at the local market. Most of the product is imported from outsider supplier. The price of the product also seems expensive. Cost study and new mechanism design, can be marketable toward wider customer at lower cost and new innovation of auto gate mechanism can enhance local design capability.

AIM OF THE PROJECT

The present study aims at designing an electronic automated gate system that can be remotely controlled from a distance. The electronic code of the system has an in-built password that is four characters in length. This code is entered from a handheld unit. The security of the system is enhanced since the code is not easy to break and is only known to the operator.

1.2                                    OBJECTIVE

The main aim and objective of the design and construction this project is to create a comfort in the minds of house and property owners when they out from their premises without much fear of intruder.

PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

Automatic gates are used to control access into a secured area. Most commonly, automatic gates are used at the entrance to the facility, and are used to control vehicular access on and off of the site. For example, a manufacturing plant may use an automatic gate at its main entrance. All vehicles entering and exiting the plant must do so through the automatic gate. Automatic gates are also used at interior areas within a facility. For example, automatic gates are commonly used within the inside of a parking garage to separate employee parking areas from public areas of the garage.

1.3                             SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

This device functions as an electronics watch dog. This device functions as a major security alarms  used in residential, commercial, industrial, and military properties for protection against burglary (theft) or property damage, as well as personal protection against intruders.

1.4                                             LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

• The only problem noticed in this work is that even the shadow of an animals can also trigger the device just as human being shadow can also.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Nowadays, the automatic gate mechanisms have been improved and developed with different kind of features. These features have increased the product cost and this cost does not include the installation cost. Many people especially with low income could not afford to purchase the gate mechanism. The gate mechanism needs a very skillful or trained person to install the mechanism to the gate. Some gate mechanisms also need to be attached with rail on the ground, this seems to be inconvenience and need a lot of work force to install the track. Development of automatic gate mechanism should help in term of cost reduction and ease of installation.

OBJECTIVES 

Objectives for this project refer to the mission, purpose, or standard that can be reasonably achieved within the expected timeframe and with the available resources. The objective of this project is to design an automatic gate mechanism for residential home with double gate leaf with weight of 100 kg for each side of the gate. Cost reduction and ease of installation are also considered for this mechanism.

PROJECT SCOPES

The scopes for this project are to study about several types of automatic gate mechanism and to understand the working principle in term of movement. Those mechanisms include swing gate type mechanism, sliding gate type mechanism and folding swing type mechanism. Design and sketches in rough view, are compared between those designs and the best is chosen. The design should consider about the portability and cost. Based on the design, a prototype is constructed for mechanism rough view. Finite element analysis using ALGOR software is to determine the critical failure part of the mechanism. This is to ensure the mechanism can withstand high torque.

APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT

Tthis dvice can be used in places like:

• Hotel
• Worship places
• Garage
• Industries, etc.

EXPECTED OUTCOME

Designed and fabrication of automatic gate mechanism should be reliable, easy to maintain, safe to operate and less in cost compared to other types of automatic gates. The automatic gate mechanism should also be able to function properly when installed on normal gate with weight of 100kg.

LIMITATION

The limitation for this project is hard to collect data about the automatic gate mechanism. Automatic gate are normally for commercial purpose and it is impossible for the product company to expose their own design and working principle of the product.