MICROCONTROLLER

BASED
AUTOMATIC RAILWAY
GATE CONTROL

Submitted by,
P.NAVEEN
S.SUDHAKAR
ARULMIGU KALASALINGAM
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
KRISHNANKOVIL

Email id: sudhakar_mani87@yahoo.co.in

Naveensree007@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT:
The objective of this paper is to provide an automatic railway gate at a
levelcrossing replacing the gates operated by the gatekeeper. It deals with two things.
Firstly, it deals with the reduction of time for which the gate is being kept closed. And
secondly, to provide safety to the road users by reducing the accidents.

By the presently existing system once the train leaves the station, the
stationmaster informs the gatekeeper about the arrival of the train through the
telephone. Once the gatekeeper receives the information,he closes the gate depending
on the timing at which the train arrives. Hence, if the train is late due to certain
reasons,then gate remain closed for a long time causing traffic near the gates.

By employing the automatic railway gate control at the level crossing the
arrival of the train is detected by the sensor placed near to the gate. Hence, the time
for which it is closed is less compared to the manually operated gates and also reduces
the human labour. This type of gates can be employed in an unmanned level crossing
where the chances of accidents are higher and reliable operation is required. Since, the
operation is automatic, error due to manual operation is prevented .

Automatic railway gate control is highly economical microcontroller based

arrangement, designed for use in almost all the unmanned level crossings in the
country.

INTRODUCTION:
In this paper we are concerned of providing an automatic railway gate
control at unmanned level crossings replacing the gates operated by gate keepers and
also the semiautomatically operated gates. It deals with two things. Firstly, it deals
with the reduction of time for which the gate is being kept closed. And secondly, to
provide safety to the road users by reducing the accidents that usually occur due to
carelessness of road users and at times errors made by the gatekeepers.

By employing the automatic railway gate control at the level crossing

the arrival of train is detected by the sensor placed on either side of the gate at about
5km from the level crossing. Once the arrival is sensed , the sensed signal is sent to
the microcontroller and it checks for possible presence of vehicle between the gates,
again using sensors. Subsequently, buzzer indication and light signals on either side
are provided to the road users indicating the closure of gates. Once, no vehicle is
sensed in between the gate the motor is activated and the gates are closed. But, for the
worst case if any obstacle is sensed it is indicated to the train driver by signals(RED)
placed at about 2km and 180m,so as to bring it to halt well before the level crossing.
When no obstacle is
sensed GREEN light is indicated, and the train is to free to move.
The departure of the train is detected by sensors placed at about 1km
from the gate. The signal about the departure is sent to the microcontroller, which in
turn operates the motor and opens the gate. Thus, the time for which the gate is closed
is less compared to the manually operated gates since the gate is closed depending
upon the telephone call from the previous station. Also reliability is high as it is not
subjected to manual errors.

RAILWAY GATE CONTROL

L
SG2

SG1

SG3

SG4

B
M

rail
track

LEVEL
CROSSING

M
R1

R4

road

R3

R2

MICRO
CONTROLLER

89C51

R1 & R2

Sensors on the track, placed at about 5 km from the gate

to detect the train arrival on either directions.

R3 & R4

Sensors on the track, placed at about 1 km from the gate

to detect the train departure on either directions.

SG1,SG2,SG3 & SG4

Signals placed by the side of the track to indicate the

train driver about the closing of the gate.

Buzzer, an audio signal to warn the road user about the

approach of train.

Motor for gate operation.

Light signal to warn the road user.

The detailed description of the working of the above model can be explained
under various heads.

i) Initial Signal Display:

Signals SG1,SG2,SG3 and SG4 are placed near the gate each at a specified
distance. SG1 and SG4 are placed at 2Km on either side of the gate whereas SG2 and
SG3 are placed at 180m from the gate. The train may be approaching the gate in
either direction. So all four signals are made RED initially to indicate that gate is open
and vehicles are passing through the gate.

The road user signals are made GREEN so that they can freely move through
the gate buzzer is made OFF since there is no approach of train and road users need
not be warned.

ii) Train Arrival Detection:

+V

IR
transmitter

IR
receiver

Comparator

Transistor
switch

Detection of a train approaching the gate can be sensed by means of sensors

R1,R2,R3 and R4 placed on either side of the gate. In a particular direction of
approach,R1 is used to sense the arrival while R3 senses the departure of train. In the
same way,R4 senses the approach and R2 the departure respectively in the other
direction of train arrival.
Based on the vibration of the track as the train approaches the sensor works.
The sensor comprises of an IR transmitter, IR receiver, a comparator and a transistor
switch. IR transmitter gives IR rays whose wavelength depends upon the vibration of
track that corresponds to the input frequency . If frequency increases its wavelength
increases and thus reduces the resistance of the IR receiver. It reduces voltage drop
across the receiver. Its output voltage is the difference between this voltage drop and
input voltage to the sensor.
This is fed to the comparator whose reference voltage is based on the
threshold frequency which is minimum frequency caused by a slow train. Thus, the
comparator produces -12V saturation when it senses a train and +12V if not.
Correspondingly, a transistor switch produces +5V and 0V respectively. This is
transmitted employing FM to the microcontroller.

iii) Warning For Road Users:

At the moment the train arrival is sensed on either side of the gate, road users
are warned about the train approach by RED signals placed to caution the road users
passing through the gate. RED signal appears for the road user once the train cuts the
relay sensor placed 5Km before the gate. A buzzer is made ON as a precautionary
measure for the road user and that nobody should enter the gate at that moment.

iv) Sensing For Vehicles:

Laser light is used as a source and LDR as a tool for sensing purpose. When
light strokes on LDR its resistance decreases and when light does not strike LDR its
resistance remains at normal value. This change of resistance of LDR is used for
sensing by the micro controller 89C51 by the use of compensation.

If there is no vehicle in between or beneath the gates, then the laser light from
the source falls on the LDR since there is no obstacle. Since there is no vehicle or
obstacle, signal is made GREEN for the train to pass through the gate. The same is
applied for in the other direction and SG3 and SG4 are made GREEN and gates are
closed.

Due to some unavoidable circumstances, if there is a sudden breakdown of a

vehicle between the gate, then the light from laser source does not fall on LDR. It
indicates the presence of vehicle and the signal for train should be made RED in order
to slow down the train to avoid collision. Then the obstacle should be warned to clear
the path.

v) Gate Closing Operation:

Once the microcontroller senses that there is no vehicle inside, then it
automatically produces the signal to operate the motor through relay circuit and hence
close the gate for the passage of train.

When any presence of obstacle is sensed, 89C51 gives signal for obstacle to
clear the path and once the path is cleaned, motor is operated to close the gate.
Actually rotary motion occurs in a motor. This rotary motion is converted to linear
motion of the gate using a gear.

vi) Signal For Train:

When the path is clear inside the gate, GREEN signal is produced for the train
when there is any obstacle, signal is made RED for the train in order to slow down its
speed before 5 Km from the gate. Another signal placed at 180 m before the gate,
when it is still RED when train approaches if then provisions if then provisions should
be stop the train.

vi)Train Departure Detection:

Detection of train departure is also done using relay technique as explained
under the head of train arrival detection. Train departure sensing is done by sensors
R3 and R2 respectively considering the directions of train approach.

viii) Gate Opening:

When the train departure is sensed by the sensors, signal is given to the
Microcontroller which operates the motor in reverse direction and the gates are
opened. Once the gate is opened signal for road users are made GREEN so that the
vehicles can pass through the gate.

ALGORITHM:
STEP 1:

Start.

STEP 2:

Set the variables.

STEP 3:

Make initial settings of the signals for the train and road users.

STEP 4:

Check for the arrival of the train in either direction by the sensors.
If the train is sensed go to STEP 5. Otherwise repeat STEP 4.

STEP 5:

Make the warning signal for the road users and set the signal for
the train.

STEP 6:

Check for the presence of the obstacle using sensors. If there is no

obstacle go to STEP 7. Otherwise repeat STEP 6.

STEP 7:

Close the gate and stop the buzzer warning.

STEP 8:

Change the signal for the train.

STEP 9:

Check for the train departure by the sensors. If the train sensed go
to next STEP. Otherwise repeat STEP 9.

STEP 10:

Open the gate.

STEP 11:

Go to STEP 3.

STEP 12:

Stop.

FLOW CHART:

Make the initial

settings for train &
road users

If arrival of
train in either
of directions

Buzzers & signal

warnings to road
users

If
obstacles

Stop warning & close

the gate
Set the signal for
train

If train
departure

Open the gate

SOURCE CODE :
ASM PROGRAMME FOR AUTOMATIC RAILWAY GATE CONTROL:
gateon
gateoff
ce
sig1r
sig1g
sig2r
sig2g
sig3r
sig3g
sig4r
sig4g
rsg5r
rsg5g
rsg6r
rsg6g
ldr1
ldr1
ldr3
ldr4
rlysens1
rlysens2
rlysens3
rlysens4
buzzer
laser
count
count2

start:

.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg
.reg

p3.0
p3.1
p1.2
p0.2
p0.3
p0.0
p0.1
p2.3
p2.4
p0.5
p0.4
p2.2
p2.7
p2.5
p2.6
p3.2
p3.3
p2.1
p2.0
p3.7
p3.6
p3.5
p3.4
p1.0
p1.1
23h
24h

org
jmp
org
reti
org
reti
org
reti
org
reti
org
reti
clr
mov
mov
clr
clr
clr

0000h
start
0003h
000bh
0013h
001bh
0023h
ce
p0,#00h
p2,#03h
buzzer
laser
gateon

gon:
loop15:
loop2:

mn:

main:

loop2a:

loop5:
loop6:

clr gateoff
mov count1,#ffh
mov count2,#ffh
djnz count2,loop2
djnz count1,loop15
call dly
setb sig1r
setb sig2r
setb sig4r
setb sig3r
setb rsg5g
setb rsg6g
clr buzzer
clr laser
jnb rlysens1,loop1
jb rlysens4,main
clr sig4g
setb buzzer
setb laser
setb rsg5r
clr rsg5g
setb rsg6r
clr rsg6g
jnb ldr1,loop20
jnb ldr2,loop20
jnb ldr3,loop20
jnb ldr3,loop20
jnb ldr4,loop20
call gatecls
clr buzzer
clr laser
clr sig3r
clr sig4r
setb sig4g
setb sib3g
jb rlysens2,loop5
jnb rlysens2,loop6
clr sig3g
setb sig3r
clr sig4g
setb sig4r
clr rsg5r
clr rsg6r
setb rsg5g
setb rsg6g
call delay
call gateopen
call delay
clr rsg5r
clr rsg6r

loop20:

loop21:

loop1:

loop24:

loop9:
loop10:

setb rsg5g
setb rsg6g
call delay
call delay
jmp mn
setb buzzer
setb laser
setb sig3r
setb sig2r
jnb ldr1,loop21
jnb ldr2,loop21
jnb ldr3,loop21
jnb ldr4,loop21
clr buzzer
clr laser
jmp loop2a
setb sig2r
clr sig1g
setb buzzer
setb laser
setb rsg5r
clr rsg5g
setb rsg6r
clr rsg6g
jnb ldr1,loop23
jnb ldr2,loop23
jnb ldr3,loop23
jnb ldr4,loop23
call gatecls
clr buzzer
clr laser
setb sig1g
clr sig1r
setb sig2g
clr sig2r
call delay
setb rsg5r
setb rsg6r
jb rlysens3,loop9
jnb rlysens3.loop10
call delay
call gateopen
clr buzzer
clr laser
clr sig1g
clr sig2g
setb sig1r
setb sig2r
clr rsg5r
clr rsg6r

loop23:

loop26:

gateopen:

gatecls:

delay:
ji:
bala:
riju:

dly:
kr:

setb rsg5g
setb rsg6g
call delay
call delay
jmp mn
setb buzzer
setb sig3r
setb sig2r
jnb ldr1,loop26
jnb ldr2,loop26
jnb ldr3,loop26
jnb ldr4,loop26
clr buzzer
jmp loop24
setb gateon
clr gateoff
call delay
clr gateon
ret
setb gateoff
clr gateon
call delay
clr gateoff
ret
mov 50h,#04h
mov 51h,#f0h
mov 52h,#ffh
djnz 52h,riju
djnz 51h,bala
djnz 50h,ji
ret
mov 53H,#50H
djnz 53h,kr
ret

MICRO
CONTROLLER
89C51
CROSSING
LEVEL

FUTURE ENHANCEMENT:
This paper has satisfactorily fulfilled the basic things such as
prevention of accidents inside the gate and the unnecessity of a gatekeeper. But still
the power supply for the motor operation and signal lights. It can be avoided and a
battery charged by means of a solar cell. It can be used directly during the daytime
and by charging the battery during night. Hence this arrangement can be used in
remote areas where the power supply cant be expected. The obstacle detection part
can be implemented using Fuzzy logic. As it thinks in different angles or aspects, the
system works still more efficiently.

THE LAST WORD

The idea of automating the process of railway gate operation in level
crossings has been undertaken. As the system is completely automated, it avoids
manual errors and thus provides ultimate safety to road users. By this mechanism,
presence of a gatekeeper is not necessary and automatic operation of the gate through
the motor action is achieved. Microcontroller 89C51 performs the complete operation
i.e., sensing ,gate closing and opening operation is done by software coding written
for the controller. The mechanism works on a simple principle and there is not much
of complexity needed in the circuit.