2010 8th IEEE International Conference on
16
Control and Automation
Xiamen, China, June 9-11, 2010
Design of New Intelligent Street Light Control System
WU Yue 1, 2, SHI Changhong3, ZHANG Xianghong3, YANG Wei1
AbstractIn China, the methods of time-control, optical-control
and time-optical-control are in common used to control street lamp,
particularly in small and medium-sized cities. But due to the
backward lighting control and administrative method, the precision
is bad, and the result of work is also poor. Through many kinds of
sensor combination sense environment's change, the multi-sensor
exhibition can combinatory logically control the new intelligent
street light controller system. And based on the degree of
illumination control fixed time, in the automatic foundation fixed
time, according to the multi-sensing exhibition survey data's special
combination change, to control the street light nimbly; the system
can also realize the automatic timing control, by pre-installing time
to control street light switch and ultimately to control the street light
time. Simultaneously the system can also realize the automatic
sunshine control, which may act according to the actual
determination of the sunlight degree of illumination and the degree
of illumination control criterion and automatically control street
light. On the basis of the merits of the regular control and the optical
control, a new street smart controller is designed, with dual functions
including timing control and automatic photoelectric control. It
allows street lamps automatically lit in the evening, lighting the road
for a few hours (adjustable time). After 0:00, when few vehicles or
pedestrians go past, it turn off automatically. And terminal controller
has wake-up function. After the street light turn out automatically,
when the vehicles or pedestrians are going through, street light will
be waken up by terminal controller. When the vehicles or
pedestrians go past, the lights are off automatically. Design of new
intelligent street light control system does not only achieve
energy-saving power but also extend the service life of lighting
equipment. Moreover, it is controllable, ease of maintenance. At the
same time, it is helpful to highlight the festive and other
characteristics, and ultimately make street light network,
intelligence, humanity and art. An optimal configuration is reported.
Finally, the results of experiment are obtained that: when a motor is
closed to 15 meters, LED lights are on automatically. While people
passed, the distance is proximity 10 meters.
I. INTRODUCTION
T here are a small number of streets in the town and the
city before, street lamps and management control is
relatively simple, but as the country gradually come into a
well-off society, and with the development of urbanization,
the number of streets in the town increase rapidly. So the
control and management of street lighting become problems.
Manuscript received October 30, 2009. This work was supported in part
by the Students innovation projects fund of Taiyuan city (Item Number:
07010751).
1 Author is with the National Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement
Technology, North University of China, Taiyuan, 030051, China. E-mail:
wuy@live.nuc.edu.cn , Tel.: +86-351-3922752
2 Author is with the Mechanical and Electronic Engineering College,
North University of China, Taiyuan, 030051, China
3 Author is with the Quartermaster Institute of the General Logistics
Department of the PLA, Beijing, 100010, China
978-1-4244-5196-8/10/$26.00 2010 IEEE 1423
ThCP4.
At present, street lamps control at most of the urban is only by
manual control, a control switch set in each of the street
lamps, it is the so-called first generation of the original street
light control, which is inefficient and a waste of manpower,
and cumbersome to operate street light opening and closing
time. Or using optical-control method, set up optical control
circuit, change the resistance by using of light-sensitive
device to control street lamps light up automatically in the
evening after dark, turn off automatically after dawn in the
morning, but the low reliability of the method, vulnerable to
interference, night street lighting is too bright and are a waste
of energy and other issues [1]. The other is time-control
method (that is, from time to time opening and closing
control) [2], and time-optical-control [3] (that is, from time to
time with light intensity control). This three street light
control method can be attributed to the second generation of
street light control. The second generation street light control
method achieved automatic control of street light, thereby
reducing the labor intensity and lowering labor costs and
improving the efficiency of street lighting control. With the
use of in-depth, but it also exposed a problem that it can not
meet the needs of the growing street lamp information and
intelligent management. The time of lighting is not only lack
of precision, many street lights are controlled by using the
mid-night lights strategy, energy-saving effect is poor. In
short, the current street lighting strategy is simple and crude,
lack of humane care of the car and human, can not achieve the
sleep and wake-up call of the lamps in time, but some
research for the city's festive lighting and landscaping is also
rare. An urgent need to develop a high degree of information,
to facilitate the realization of network-based, highly
intelligent automatic control system of street lighting, which
is the third generation of intelligent street light control
systems.
II. A NEW TYPE OF INTELLIGENT CONTROL SYSTEMS
Intelligent street light control system uses the latest
international intelligent street light energy-saving control
technology [4]. Through multi-sensor array, such as sound,
light, infrared, vibration and other sensors, collect
background information of the street environmental, and
through a variety of strategies to control street lights, such as
clock etc. to achieve energy saving and environmental
protection, green lighting and festive lighting. The purpose of
joyful festive atmosphere can be achieved at the same time.
Intelligent Street light control system can switch lights
reasonably, regulates voltage according to degrees of shine
 ThCP4.16

and runs in lower voltage in night .As a result, it saves
electricity costs largely, prolongs the service life of street
lamps and equipments, and saves labor costs of maintenance
and materials significantly. By improving constitution of
street light computer monitor system, working principle and
function, intelligent street light control system adds different
control maneuvers in different festival days .It also strengthen
relevant energy saving technologies, highlight energy saving,
environmental protection, control, ease of maintenance,
festive, and other characteristics of the realization of
intelligence, humanity and art in the new urban street light
network.
communication interface and broadband network interface.
Each of the sub-node computers is made up of a host
computer and a number of guest modules. The host unit of PC
and the sub-node computer use GPRS communications which
is low-cost due to the use of billing data flow, however, the
host unit and several guest units of sub-node computer use
power line carrier communications.
Telecom Network
Broadband network

III. HARDWARE OF NEW INTELLIGENT STREET LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM

Public street light control and management system is made
up of the computer network systems, communication systems Host system
and a number of spot intelligent control terminals. Each
terminal control device provide power for one or more of the
block street, every control terminal is called a sub-node. Light
switches control is carried out by the two-way controlled Printer GPRS Interface
Module
silicon in control box. Terminal for the control of street
blocks is two-distributed computer control system which is
composed of host computer from the sub-node and host Figure 1 host system
computer from central control room (master node) which
offering operating of engineers and computer stations (as a
Power Line
central control room), which is shown in Figure 1.Its main
completion is remote control, telemetry, remote hearing,
failure analysis, data retrieval, system maintenance,
electronic map display and print statements and other Communication module
functions. As a contrast, sub-node computer is on-line
real-time controlled, carries out remote communications,
light switch and detection of current, voltage and other Photoelectric Keyboard unit
parameters. Three-tier control is used in node stations, the conversion unit The main
instructions from the main first node (the central control single-chip
room)is priority for control, such as rainy days, holidays, air system
defense and other situations under which special instructions Voltage
conversion
are issued. Secondly, sub-node computer control street light Display unit
unit
automatically. 100 calendar and calculating program is in the
memory of sub-node computer .As long as the personnel run
GPRS Interface Module
man-machine interface, and parameters such as the local
latitude, the initial date and time of light switches are input, it
can automatically correct the time according to local season Figure 2 the host machine of lower unit
and day-night changing to achieve automatic control from The host machine of lower unit is shown in Figure 2,
time to time without a manager within 100 years after the composed of ATmega8 single-chip systems, and the GPRS
local section. Thirdly, sub-node is a photosensitive control communication interface module, carrier communication
computer, when the time has not been set by the system, or module, voltage acquisition unit, photoelectric conversion
rechargeable batteries can not control the clock, then light unit, keyboard and display unit, and other peripheral
works. equipments. The host unit to deal with large amount of data
Public street light intelligent control and management required for the host unit to expand the storage system.
system is made up of a PC and a number of sub-note Keyboard unit with a direct line to the mouth of the
components. PC is installed in the general management office single-chip, the unit also needs the definition of "setting the
of street lamp system, sub-node host computers are installed address of the host unit," "set GPRS communication interface
in the street management office (a transformer), and the guest module parameter"," open the manual system to slip all the
computers are installed in every street lamp control box. PC street lights (exceptional circumstances) "and" shut down the
bears general configuration of multimedia PC, with GPRS slip system for all street lamps (exceptional circumstances)

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"function keys manually. from the machine, if the unit can be received the correct
Power line information back from the machine, the host unit on the
real-time display of this unit from the machine-related
information, inspection order will be made by
communications modules corresponding to the slave unit, if
Communication Current transformation unit
module
the received the correct information from the local unit
returned, real-time display on the host unit from the local unit
Photoelectric conversion unit of information, not any data packets distribute to PC;
The slave single-chip Otherwise, only package the slave unit address from the
system Voice of power conversion unit machine (this shows that there are problems from the slave
machine unit, such as: line circuit) made up of the GPRS
Vibration power conversion packet, distribute to PC machine. In accordance with PC
unit
street light management system to print statements of the
TRIAC situation, the operator can all stay at home to know from the
Address coding unit
work of the various local slave units, and to understand the
good and bad online street light. Save time and manpower to
Figure 3 the slave machine system of lower unit achieve the purpose, and can easily control the opening and
the sleeping lights. The local unit collected the signal from
The slave machine of lower unit is shown in Figure 3.It is
optical sensors, the optical signal converter, and then
composed of ATmega8 single-chip systems, and the current
conditioning the signal, filtering software for the current
sensors, Media Converter, SSS (silicon symmetrical switch),
value of the photoelectric conversion data from the machine
communication module, and other peripherals. Slave unit
and stored in the memory unit. When the photoelectric
hardware block diagram is shown in Figure 2, current sensor
conversion data of the slave unit collected more than a given
in the street light series circuit, output signal of current
value (that is, the light can), if in the absence of signals from
sensors and photoelectric conversion unit, after signal
the host unit, the slave unit will automatically turn off street
conditioning, following the receipt of the single-chip systems,
lights relay; at this time if the signal is from the host unit, the
the address encoding unit from the slave machine by a group
host unit order to open the corresponding street light relay,
of switch settings, the use of single-chip set of the mouth line.
and data collected by the communications module sent to the
If there are many number of streets, the addresses of the slave
host unit; when the slave unit run, if received by the host unit
machine are not enough, it can be expanded through the
sent a signal to the closed street once again, the slave machine
interface chip. The P15 mouth line of MCU can open and
will automatically turn off street lights.
close the street through drive unit (including opt coupler solid
state relay). The selection of communication module related
V. SYSTEM SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE
to the stability of system performance. Through the
interruption of communication module, the host PC software contains the operating procedures such as a
microcontroller and the slave exchange information. major, a batch, all, part of the street lamp on or off, GPRS
communications procedures (including data packing,
IV. SYSTEM WORKING PRINCIPLE unpacking), real-time display and print statements
procedures, and other procedures. PC has the entire electronic
The working principle for public street light intelligent
geographic distribution map of the management street.
control and management system is that the host unit has
Administrators can in real time on the computer screen to see
received the GPRS packet from PC. After unpacking packet,
the work state of each and every street light, and can easily
according to the operator's request, distribute the address of
control a single, single unit, single line of street lamps, and
slave machine unit and the command which turned on or off
print their work, distribute data report to senior management
the relay, to the corresponding slave unit by communication
through the broadband network.
module. Slave unit received, immediately implemented an
The host machine of lower unit stored the entire addresses
order, and distribute the data to the host unit. the host unit
table from the local unit in memory within the host unit. First
received the data, then package the machine (that is the
of all, scanning the keyboard, the keys pressed to implement
current slave machine) address, associated data (when the
the corresponding action; without key press, to see whether
current value of the data back from the slave machine is less
the GPRS packet over, the unpacking command will be
than a certain value, signs of the street light have been bad)
implemented, carrier communication package for the new
and voltage value collected by the host unit, made up of the
format of the data packets. According to the data information
GPRS packet, distribute to PC machine. When all the street
received from the slave unit, and then packing GPRS packet,
lights is turned on by the host unit, if the operator once again
distribute to PC. In exceptional cases, host unit can open or
in accordance with the address size, order inspection made by
shut down all the street lights by hand.
the communication module to the corresponding slave unit

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The slave machine work flow chart of lower unit is shown
in Figure 4, in accordance with the host unit demand, the main
functions of slave unit is to open or close the streetlight, or
inspection of the current value of sampling, and package
sampling data back to the host unit.
Start
Initialization port
Initialization port
personnel or vehicles pass by, whether LED [5]-[9] lights can
automatically illuminate at night. First, connect the power,
intelligent controller and LED lamp arrays, light-control
results are shown in Figure 6, and then disconnect the light
control, test remote motor (analog vehicles) and movement of
personnel respectively, and see if the effect of light control.
When the motor works, which the distance of 15 meters away
from the test location, LED lights begin lighting
automatically, lighting effects are shown in Figure 7. People
from long-distance move to the test location, when close to 10
meters, LED lights begin automatically lighting; lighting
effects are shown in Figure 8. When proximity to 10 meters
away from Testing location, the LED lights automatically
switch off.

Compared with optoelectronic sampling and given

numerical values

More than a given value, to close the street relay

Communications are interrupted, interrupt handling

Figure 6 light-control results

Figure 4 the work flow chart of the slave unit

VI. SLAVE UNIT WORKING PRINCIPLE

In order to overcome the deficiencies of the circuit before,
through the sensor array sensing environmental changes, to
control or wake-up call the street light, so that " When people
(vehicles) come, the street lights are on; people (vehicles) go,
lights out. " Automatic adjustment voltage in accordance with Figure 7 analog vehicles results
illumination, electricity costs can be saved, to extend the
service life of lamps and equipment, significant savings in
labor costs and maintenance costs and materials. Designed
circuit shown in Figure 5:

Figure 8 analog personnel results

Figure 5 Designed circuit
VII. EXPERIMENT AND RESULTS
The real environment is simulated by experiments, when
VIII. CONCLUSION
By improving street lighting control computer system
composition, working principle and function, it can meet the
increasing demand of the different holidays by different
control strategies, and strengthen the relevant measures for
energy-saving technologies, highlight characteristics such as
energy-saving[10]-[15], environmental-protection, controllable,
ease-maintenance and festive joyous characteristics, achieve

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new type city street lighting system network-based,

intelligence, humanity and art characteristic. Compared with
other control systems, it has better application prospects,
especially easy to integrate itself with
wind/photovoltaic-LED/fuel cell/solar energy system [17]-[18].
The system is reliable, complementary, anti-jamming ability,
well-structured. If it is applied in large, medium and small
cities and towns, communities and various types of campus, it
will have considerable economic and social benefits.

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