PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all we would like to thank the almighty God who allows us to alive and never wants to be
live alone forever and help us to this semester project by the gift of this piece of knowledge. We
would also like to thank our advisors Mr.GECHANU they helped us every aspect to accomplish
this paper starting from the beginning to end.

We would like thank for ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING DEPARTEMENT

who helped us during data collection by allowing us to use computers in collecting the
appropriate data.

A big thank you to everyone who has given us valuable advice especially friends and those who
have offered their helping hands during the completion of this project.

Finally we have the word for our group members who helped each other by arranging the
computers, fixing our time to do our semester project.

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.....................................................................................................................................i
LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................................................ iv
LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................................................................................. iv
ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................................................v
CHAPTER ONE................................................................................................................................................ 1
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 BACKGROUND ...........................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the Problem.........................................................................................................................2
1.3 Significance of the study..........................................................................................................................3
1.4 Project Objectives.................................................................................................................................... 4
1.4.1General Objectives of the project...................................................................................................... 4
1.4.2 Specific Objectives of the project..................................................................................................... 4
1.5 Scope of the Project................................................................................................................................. 4
CHAPTER TWO........................................................................................................................................... 5
LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................................................................. 5
2.1 Modular Automated Parking System (MAPS)........................................................................................ 5
2.1.1 Model RPS 1000............................................................................................................................... 5
2.1.2Model RPS 100...................................................................................................................................6
2.1.3 Model RPS 20W and Model RPS 20L............................................................................................. 6
2.2 Programmable Logic Control (PLC)....................................................................................................... 8
2.2.1 The background and definition......................................................................................................... 8
2.2.2 Logic Controller Components.......................................................................................................... 9
2.3Parking Gate Interface............................................................................................................................ 13
2.3.1 Manager Interface........................................................................................................................... 14
2.3.2 Parking Lot Controller Interface.....................................................................................................14
2.3.3 Parking Sensor System Interface.................................................................................................... 14
2.3.4 Display Interface.............................................................................................................................14
CHAPTER THREE..................................................................................................................................... 15
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................ 15

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3.1The level Elevator car parking system....................................................................................................15

3.1.1 Automated Parking......................................................................................................................... 15
3.2The Automated Parking Lot................................................................................................................... 17
3.2.1The Entrance.................................................................................................................................... 17
3.2.2The Elevator.....................................................................................................................................19
3.2.3 The Exit...........................................................................................................................................21
CHAPTER FOUR........................................................................................................................................23
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS................................................................................................................23
4.1 Components and materials used in the system...................................................................................... 23
4.1.1 The Strain gauge............................................................................................................................. 23
4.1.2The Motor........................................................................................................................................ 23
4.1.3The controller (PLC)........................................................................................................................23
4.2 The operation of the system using PLC.................................................................................................24
CHAPTER FIVE......................................................................................................................................... 25
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION...........................................................................................25
5.1 Conclusion............................................................................................................................................. 25
5.2 Recommendation................................................................................................................................... 25
5.3 Limitation of the study...........................................................................................................................26
REFERANCES............................................................................................................................................ 27
APPENDEX.................................................................................................................................................28

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1 Model RPS20L car parking.......................................................................................................... 6

Figure 2.2 components of PLC block diagram.............................................................................................. 9
Figure 2.3 ladder diagram............................................................................................................................10
Figure 2.4 Strain gauge................................................................................................................................ 13
Figure 3.1 Control system block diagram.................................................................................................... 16
Figure 3.2 Automated car parking system block diagram........................................................................... 16
Figure 3.3 The control module diagram.......................................................................................................17
Figure 3.4 Entrance system flowchart..........................................................................................................19
Figure 3.5 Elevator system flowchart.......................................................................................................... 20
Figure 3.6 Exit system flowchart................................................................................................................. 21
Figure A1 Entrance ladder diagram.............................................................................................................29
Figure A2 Exit ladder diagram..................................................................................................................... 30
Figure A3 Elevator ladder diagram..............................................................................................................33

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Entrance and Exit ladder commentary.......................................................................................... 28

Table 2 Elevator ladder commentary.......................................................................................................... 31

ACRONYM

CPU-Central Processing Unit

VDC-Direct Current Voltage

HMI-Human Machine Interface

ID-Identification Card

LED-Light Emitting Diode

MAPS-Modular Automated Parking System

PLC-Programmable Logic Controller

RPS-Robotic Parking System

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ABSTRACT

The aim of this project is to lessen crowdies of cars. The driver will park his vehicle on a pallet
at the platform of the car park. Then the sensor will detect the available empty parking spaces
and display them on the control panel. After the driver selects the desired parking space on the
control panel, the vehicle will be transported to that parking space. In order to retrieve the
vehicle, the driver will select the location of his vehicle on the control panel. The system will
retrieve the vehicle from the parking space and send it back to the original position where the
driver is waiting. Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) will be used in the design of the
prototype of the automated parking system. The PLC is used to control the movement needed to
transport and retrieve the vehicle to and from the available parking space based on the signal
from the driver. A program needs to be created for the PLC using s7-200 Programmer by
drawing ladder diagram. Power window motor and direct current (DC) motor would be used to
provide movements to transport the vehicle in the parking system. Besides that, limit switch will
act as sensor to detect the available parking space and also the location of the carrier.

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
1.1BACKGROUND
The intelligent car parking system is a system designed to prevent a problems associated with car
parking. The intelligent car parking system address issues like car park cognition, indiscriminate
parking and the problem of locating empty parking lots. It is being designed for developing a
user friendly, intelligent and automated car parking system which greatly reduce manpower, land
area for parking, fuel consumption of the vehicle and reduces carbon emissions.

In shopping malls, discounts and season sales offered by merchants can attract thousands of
customers to come during the same periods. Most of the customers travel to the shopping malls
with their own vehicles and it is not surprising to see that car parks are always full during these
periods. However, research into drivers' parking behavior indicated that this does not seem to
stop many drivers from queuing at their favorite car park for significant periods.

Everyone living, working or visiting a big City is fully aware how difficult it is to find parking
space especially in the center where space for parking cars is usually very limited. This is a
worldwide problem for most cities, except for those few metropolitans that provide sufficient and
reliable public transport network systems enabling commuters to leave their vehicle outside the
central zones and make their way to their destination in the center by public transport. However,
this does not guarantee that the car won’t get broken into or stolen while the owner is away and
is not easily accessible especially after a hard work, shopping, site-seeing or night-out on-the-
town.

The cost of developing software for the logic controller in the manufacturing world becomes
increasing day by day. Furthermore, in designing the representation of the logic controller such
as "PLC", many companies using a different languages. In the desire to improve the capability of
this logic controller, these languages become more complex. The "PLC" is a very simples,
reliable, and very important system. In today's economic context, the design of these control
applications is of a great impact in terms of productivity and production costs. Because of these
costs of the complexity of the control system and the multiple hardware/software combinations,

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the designer has to take the safety of this system into account. In this context, it is necessary to
provide the designer with verification methods that ensure the safety and livens of the control
system. In deep, the verification methods will help the designer to troubleshoot the programs
while the error occurs in the production. One way to ensure the safety of the PLC programs is by
using "Framework;" or standard while programming process began.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

As it is known, the land is becoming less but the population of human is growing day by day.
This scenario is very obvious in modern developed cities. Therefore, land is very limited and
spaces need to be saved in every aspect of life. By building an intelligent parking system which
allows high space utilization, less space is needed compared to the conventional car park. This is
because in the intelligent car park, the parking space can be more compact by having vehicles
parked nearer to each other and also less space is required for runways or paths in the parking
space as vehicles are transferred to parking spaces using elevators and conveyers. Thus,
optimized usage of spaces can be achieved.
Other than that, once the vehicles are in the car park, they will slow down to search for an empty
parking space. This slow moving traffic will cause the queue of cars to be longer. Eventually,
traffic jam will occur when the car park is crowded. In the intelligent parking system, the
problem of traffic jam can be avoided because the parking spaces are located using sensors. So,
drivers do not need to search for the space one by one as they are notified by the system
regarding where the empty Parking spaces are located before the vehicle is transported to the
desired parking space.
In this way, a lot of time can be saved in the car park and vehicles are parked efficiently by the
system. The intelligent parking system is simple and convenient for storing vehicles in the
shortest time. While the development of the country and nation is growing in a quick pace, crime
rates are also increasing daily. Therefore, security has become one of the main concerns in
everyday life of the society. Car park is also one of the places where individuals are attacked
frequently. Theft and robbery happen in car park because it is considered a quiet place where not
many people would be in the car park all the time. By having an intelligent car park, safety for
both the driver and vehicle is less at risk because the public is not allowed into the car park. An

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Intelligent car park can help in parking the vehicles without the driver going into the car park. In
that way, security for individuals and vehicles are more guaranteed.

In short:

1. The current car parking system is not user friendly

2. The car park system can function automatically because there is a sensor to detect when cars
approach and do not need a man power.

3. It is very difficult when there is no counter display when a car comes in and out.

4. Since some car parking system does not equipped with programmable signage to inform
whether the parking is full or not, the car user will not waste their time and petrol consumption to
find free parking lot.

1.3 Significance of the study

 displays the number of free spaces
 guides drivers to the parking space of their choice
 assures uniform loading of the existing parking facilities
 gives out-of-town drivers useful orientation tips
 reduces the traffic looking for a place to park and the related exhaust emissions
 reduces inner-city traffic through early guidance, e.g. to Park + Ride spaces

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1.4 Project Objectives

1.4.1General Objectives of the project

An intelligent car park system was designed to achieve a number of general objectives. The
major one was to enable a more systematic approach to car parking and to lessen the crowdness
of car.

1.4.2 Specific Objectives of the project

The Intelligent parking system has a few objectives to be achieved. These objectives are:

 To design and build up a prototype of an intelligent car park system.

 To learn how to control the operation of the prototype of Intelligent parking system using
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).
 To learn how to program Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) using S7-200
Programmer software.

1.5 Scope of the Project

The scope of this project is to develop a prototype of an intelligent parking system which is able
to park and retrieve the vehicle by itself even without the driver. All the movements needed to
transport a vehicle in the intelligent parking system are controlled using Programmable Logic
Controller (PLC) as it is the controller in this system. Programming for PLC is done in software
named S7-200 Programmer by using ladder logic method. Besides programming, simulation can
also be done in S7-200 Programmer to detect errors in the program created. This will allow
modifications is used as the PLC trainer in this intelligent parking system project because it has
task dedicated inner boards, specialized input and output and also high speed corrections to be
done to the program before connecting the prototype to a PLC trainer. Therefore, it is a powerful
and user friendly model of PLC.

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CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Modular Automated Parking System (MAPS)

The Modular Automated Parking System (MAPS) integrates computerization with mechanical
lifts, pallets, carriers and conveyors to park and retrieve vehicles in multilevel modular garages.
These garages have units that are standard in size and design and they can be arranged or fitted
together in a variety of ways. They can also be fully customized system to achieve specific
requirements besides ensuring optimum occupancy of spaces by vehicles. There are four models
of MAPS, which are:
1. Model RPS 1000
2. Model RPS 100
3. Model RPS 20W
4. Model RPS 20L
Operation of MAPS is made possible by flexibility transfer technology. This is a type of
transport technology that is also being used in automobile assembly lines. Improvement that has
been done in MAPS is that a new fuzzy logic based technology has been developed and
integrated with the flexible transfer application in order to optimize the movement of the carriers
and lifts. Other than that, it also allows several cars to be moved independently through the
garage. This will help in making the vehicle storage and retrieval in a shorter time. MAPS are
monitored by computer and human machine interface (HMI) will show real time car movements.
Besides that, the HMI facilitates the maintenance and diagnostics of the car park system. The
computer which is installed at the garage is accessible from any remote location. Additionally,
all systems are equipped with backup system and are based on the safety philosophy of one out
of two failures. This means that at least two of every major component is installed on site. At all
times, every parking space can be monitored simultaneously by at least two independent units

2.1.1 Model RPS 1000

Model RPS 1000 is a large parking garage which is able to accommodate from 200 to 5000 cars.
It is a very flexible and modular design suitable for applications above ground, underground,
inside a building, on top of a building or under a building. This model offers one of the highest

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level of redundancy in the industry and a greater level of reliability. This is because all major
components have at least one back up system. Thus, the chances of inoperable of the system due
to failures are very low. Other than that, the HMI offers a very sophisticated system of
diagnostics which provides high level of detection in advance of any failures. It is understood
that any mechanical or electronic devices can fail but this failure can be overcome by early
warning signals and repair.

2.1.2Model RPS 100

Model RPS 100 is an intermediate sized automated parking garage with a capacity of 30 to 200
cars. It is an ideal solution for small sites with a high demand for parking. This model also
provides redundancy and the HMI diagnostic tool helps in ensuring the operation of the garage is
not interrupted. It is an intermediate sized garage with true redundancy which means it has the
actual back up of the complete unit. Therefore the capability of the system to operate with
minimal failures is guaranteed.

2.1.3 Model RPS 20W and Model RPS 20L

The ultimate space efficient solution! A fast, very

flexible automated parking system for small
applications with a need for 10— 30 cars per module
(with the capability of building modules adjacent to add
more cars) and fits on sites with dimensions as small as:
10’ x 60’ to 68’ x 60’ (with capability to fit designs
on various multiples of these dimensions) with a
height of 45’ — 120

Figure Model RPS20L car parking

Figure 2.1 Model RPS20L car parking

It is ideally suited for condominium,

apartment, hotel, small office building development projects where land is very limited (and

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expensive) and a large part of the success of the project is dependent upon the capability to fill
the parking requirements, which can't be easily met with a conventional garage. The RPS 20
series in these cases is a developer’s dream!

The facade is completely flexible and can be designed to blend in with the neighboring buildings
with a look that is contemporary, historic, traditional etc. The materials that can be used are
completely versatile as well as concrete, wood, brick, stone, aluminum, etc. It is completely up to
the imagination of the owner and his architect.

From a user perspective, it is a very safe and convenient system. The system virtually eliminates
the risk of any vehicle damage or theft and the risk of personal injury or robbery that can occur
in regular parking lots because drivers remain safely outside the building at all times. Imagine,
arriving to your destination. Rather than having to spend an exorbitant amount of time driving
around looking for a space to park, you drive right up to the garage, drive in at ground level into
a well-lit easy access entrance area, get out of your car, push a button and then you simply walk
away.

Underground applications are particularly well suited for this system. Because only half the
space is needed, one can realize as much as 50% cost savings on the excavation alone. Also, due
to lower lighting and ventilation requirements (since no cars are driving around and no one is
walking inside), lower insurance costs, lower personnel expenses, land savings, etc. the overall
development costs can be significantly lower than for a conventional garage.

In addition, this system offers a pollution free alternative. No cars are running inside, so there are
no choking car emissions to have to deal with inside the garage. Also, because cars do not have
to circle around and around the block looking for spaces, there is less pollution (and less traffic)
from cars driving at slow paces for extended periods of time.

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2.2 Programmable Logic Control (PLC)

2.2.1 The background and definition
A PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is a device that was invented to replace the necessary
sequential relay circuits for machine control. The PLC works by looking at its inputs and
depending upon their state, turning on/off its outputs. The user enters a program, usually via
software, that gives the desired results. PLCs are used in many "real world" applications.

Programmable logic controllers are used in every aspect of industry to expand and enhance
production. Where older automated systems would use hundreds or thousands of relays, a single
PLC can be programmed as a replacement. The functionality of the PLC has evolved over the
years to include capabilities beyond typical relay control. Process control distributive control
stems, and complex networking have now been added to the PLC's list of functions.
Historical Development of PLC

PLCs were first introduced in the late 1960's. The primary reason for designing such a device
was eliminating the large cost involved in replacing the complicated relay based machine control
systems.
When production requirements changed so did the control system. This becomes very expensive
when the change is frequent. Since relays are mechanical devices they also have a limited
lifetime which required strict adhesion to maintenance schedules. Troubleshooting was also quite
tedious when so many relays are involved. Now picture a machine control panel that included
many, possibly hundreds or thousands, of individual relays. The size could be mind boggling.
How about the complicated initial wiring of so many individual devices! These relays would be
individually wired together in a manner that would yield the desired outcome.
These "new controllers" also had to be easily programmed by maintenance and plant engineers.
The lifetime had to be long and programming changes easily performed. They also had to
survive the harsh industrial environment. That's a lot to ask! The answers were to use a
programming technique most people were already familiar with and replace mechanical parts
with solid-state ones.
A Programmable controller is a solid state user programmable control system with functions to
control logic, sequencing, timing, arithmetic data manipulation and counting capabilities. It can

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be viewed as an industrial computer that has a central processor unit, memory, input output
interface and a programming device.

The central processing unit provides the intelligence of the controller .It accepts data, status
information from various sensing devices like limit switches, proximity switches, executes the
user control program stored in the memory and gives appropriate output commands to devices
such as solenoid valves, switches etc.

Input output interface is the communication link between field devices and the
controllers. Through these interfaces the processor can sense and measure physical quantities
regarding a machine or process, such as, proximity, position, motion, level, temperature,
pressure, etc. Based on status sensed, the CPU issues command to output devices such
as valves, motors, alarms, etc. The programmer unit provides the man machine
interface. It is used to enter the application program, which often uses a simple user-friendly
logic.

2.2.2 Logic Controller Components

The PLC mainly consists of a CPU, memory areas, and appropriate circuits to receive
input/output data. We can actually consider the PLC to be a box full of hundreds or thousands of
separate relays, counters, timers and data storage locations. Do these counters, timers, etc. really
exist? No, they don't "physically" exist but rather they are simulated and can be considered
software counters, timers, etc. These internal relays are simulated through bit locations in
registers.

Figure 1.2 components of PLC block diagram

Ladder Logic Programming

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A ladder diagram consists of one line running down on the left side and there are lines branching
off to the right. The line on the left is called the bus bar. The branching lines are called
instruction lines or rungs. Along the instruction lines are placed conditions that lead to other
instructions on the right side. The logical combinations of these conditions will determine when
and how the instructions at the right are executed. Instruction lines can branch apart and then join
back together. The vertical pairs of lines are called conditions. The conditions without a diagonal
line through them are called normally open conditions while conditions with a diagonal line
through them are called normally closed conditions. The number above each condition indicates
the operand bit for the instruction. The status of the bit associated with each condition determines
the execution condition.

Ladder logic or ladder diagrams are the most common Programming language used to program a
PLC.

Figure 2.3 ladder diagram

The logic of the rung above is such:

• If Input1 is ON (true) - power (logic) completes the circuit from the left rail to the right rail
and Output1 turns ON (or true).

• If Input1 is OFF (false) - then the circuit is not completed and logic does not flow to the
right- and Output 1 is OFF (false).

Normally Open Contact

This can be used to represent any input to the control logic such as switch or sensor, a contact
from an output, or an internal output. When solved the referenced input is examined for a true
(logical 1) condition. If it is true, the contact will close and allow logic to flow from left to
right. If logical 0, the contact is open and logic will not flow from left to right.

Normally Open Coil

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This can be used to represent any discrete output from the control logic. When "solved" if the
logic to the left of the coil is TRUE, the referenced output is TRUE (logical1).

Normally Closed Contact

When solved the referenced input is examined for an OFF condition. If the status is OFF (logical
0) power (logic) will flow from left to right. If the status is ON, power will not flow.

Normally Closed Coil

When "solved" if the coil is a logical 0, power will be turned on to the device. If

The device is logical 1, power will be OFF.

Counter

These again do not physically exist. They are simulated counters and they can be programmed to
count pulses. Typically these counters can count up, down or both up and down. Since they are
simulated they are limited in their counting speed. Some manufacturers also include high-speed
counters that are hardware based. We can think of these as physically existing. Most times these
counters can count up, down or up and down.

Timer

These also do not physically exist. They come in many varieties and increments. The most
common type is an on-delay type. Others include off-delay and both retentive and non-retentive
types. Increments vary from 1ms through 1s.

Output relay-(coils)

These are connected to the outside world. They physically exist and send on/off signals to
solenoids, lights, etc. They can be transistors, relays, or depending upon the model chosen.

Data storage

Typically there are registers assigned to simply store data. They are usually used as temporary
storage for math or data manipulation. They can also typically be used to store data when power
is removed from the PLC. Upon power-up they will still have the same contents as before power
was removed. Very convenient and necessary!!

Comment on Sensors and Instruments

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Instruments are the eyes of engineer/ operator that can see & feel the intense process variable
inside the vessels accordingly the measurements should be Reliable and as close to actual
condition as reliable and as close to actual condition as possible with reasonable costs. “If you
cannot measure you cannot control!”

Smart/intelligent sensors

The term ‘intelligent device’ is used to describe a package containing either a complete
measurement system, or else a component within a measurement system, which incorporates a
digital processor.

Processing of the output of measurement sensors to correct for errors inherent in the
measurement process brings about large improvements in measurement accuracy. Such
intelligent devices are known by various names such as intelligent instrument, smart sensor and
smart transmitter.

A smart a sensor is with local processing power that enables it to react to local conditions
without having to refer back to a central controller. Smart sensors are usually at least twice as
accurate as non-smart devices, have reduced maintenance costs and require less wiring to the site
where they are used. In addition, long-term stability is improved, reducing the required
calibration frequency.

The functions possessed by smart sensors vary widely, but consist of at least some of the
following:

 Remote calibration capability

 Self-diagnosis of faults
 Automatic calculation of measurement accuracy and compensation for random errors
 Adjustment for measurement of non-linearity’s to produce a linear output
 Compensation for the loading effect of the measuring process on the measured system.

Strain Gage

The strain gauge has been in use for many years and is the fundamental
sensing element for many types of sensors, including pressure sensors,

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load cells, torque sensors, position sensors, etc. A strain gage is a sensor whose resistance varies
with applied force; it converts force, pressure, tension, weight, etc., into a change in electrical
resistance which can then be measured.in order to measure strain with a bonded resistance strain
gage, it must be connected to an electric circuit that is capable of measuring the minute changes
in resistance corresponding to strain.

Figure 2.4 Strain gauge

Parking Lot
The parking lot consists of one entrance and exit.

a. Entrance

The entrance consists of a gate, a display showing the precise number of available parking spaces,
a tag reader. The tag reader is activated as soon as the car is within range.

b. Exit

The exit consists of a gate and an induction loop that is behind the gate to detect when a car
approaches the gate.

2.3Parking Gate Interface

This subsystem is triggered as soon as a commuter/car arrives near the parking gate. The scanner
scans the tag.

The unit controller in the interface checks the authorization of the Commuter with the database
of the system.

If authorization confirmed the unit controller triggers the gate to open and let the commuter in
the parking lot. If authorization fails, the gate is not opened.

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2.3.1 Manager Interface

Manager interface system is an indirect component to the system.

The owner/manager of the system plays the role of the manager interface. The system is
automated and hence the only role of the manager during the running system is to start/stop,
add/delete/edit details of commuters and generates report from the system database.

The manager however has the privileges of changing the system Configuration and display
manually entered messages on the display board during maintenance or system troubleshooting.

2.3.2 Parking Lot Controller Interface

Parking lot controller interface consist of servers and a database that records all the events the
system goes through the day. The controller receives and sends information to the unit
controllers as well as displays the information on the main display board.

2.3.3 Parking Sensor System Interface

Parking sensor system interface consist of sensors, unit controllers, unit display boards and back-
up battery for the system. This system is triggered when a car parks or leaves the parking lot.

When a commuter parks the car in the parking lot, the sensor detects the action and sends
information to the unit controller.

The unit controller receives the information and triggers the unit display board to record the
action and also send the information to the main controller interface to display the action on the
main display board.

2.3.4 Display Interface

Display interface displays the status of the system. It has a unit Controller, which records the
information and displays the message through the display board. It also consists of a backup
battery for the smooth running of the system.

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CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The study involves a quantitative approach to capture the current problem with the management
of parking system, system development to develop the new parking system using intelligent
approach, and tested using simulation techniques.

3.1The level Elevator car parking system

3.1.1 Automated Parking
Automated parking is a method of automatically parking and retrieving cars or vehicles to solve
the problem of increasing demand for safe and convenient parking as the number of vehicles are
increasing day by day. The driver parks his car at the entrance of the car park structure and from
there; the car is automatically moved through the garage and stored in an open parking space. All
these are done by utilizing computer controlled system of pallets, conveyors, shuttles, carriers
and lifts in transporting cars from the arrival level to a parking space and vice versa without
human assistance. Later the car will be returned to the driver using a signaling device outside the
building. The control system in this project is using by 380 volt. However the input device and
output device would be supplied by 24 VDC, 12VDC and 3VDC. The input devices are like
sensor, limit switch and push button. The output devices are DC motor, LED display and timer.

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Figure 3.1 Control system block diagram

Figure 3.2 Automated car parking system block diagram J

In our project we emphasize on Model RPS 20W and Model RPS 20L. The design of the
intelligent parking system is developed based on the analysis of the survey. The design focuses
on parking lot management, security of using the park and showing the specific available parking

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space for car park users at the entry point of the parking system; that is at the point they take the
parking ticket.

3.2The Automated Parking Lot

The level elevator car parking system project is controlled by PLC. This project is the lift system
concept and applies to become a car parking system in a building. There are 30 parking spaces
with in parking system which is 15 one side parking lots and 15 another side parking lots. The
parking consists of one entrance, an elevator and one exit.

Figure 3.3 The control module diagram

3.2.1The Entrance
The entrance allows the car to the parking system. The entrance consists of a gate, an induction
loop that is in front of the gate to detect when a car approaches the gate a display showing the
precise number of available parking spaces, a tag reader. The tag reader is activated as soon as
the car is within range.

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

To implement a system indicate the available parking spaces for the car owners. This current
management of the parking system has been improved, by saving the need to search for available
car parking spaces. The new system will indicate the available car park spaces using a monitor at
the entry point of the car park. However, there can be a problem in ensuring the car driver goes
to the indicated available parking space.
If the car park is not full then the guest will request a ticket from the reader, Ticket generation
require three processing.
 Check an available park and add its ID to the ticket.
 Check your credit valance
 The strain gauge at the entrance gate takes a weight of car and sends it to server.
The server will use the car weight and add code to the ticket. After that the ticket will be
generated involve the car code number and the specific park ID. Then the entrance gate will be
open and hold a gate until the driver will inter through gate to the parking elevator, then the gate
will close. Before entering the car into the park system, there have an electronic component to
make sure the car is not overweight and you have low valance on your card. If the car is
overweight and your valance is low, there would be an alarm came out and call the driver the car
is not suitable to use for the system.

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

Figure 3.4 Entrance system flowcharts

3.2.2The Elevator
The elevator consists of tag reader, two lift motors and two conveyer motors. The major
function of elevator is to accommodating the car to the parking lot in the parking. This car
parking is not fully automatic system. A worker is needed to drive the car into the elevator before
the car is park in the building A driver needs to take a ticket card before drive a car into the
elevator. The function of card is to activate the elevator. By stopping the car on the elevator, the
driver inputs the code number and park space ID on the ticket in to the tag reader and push the
enter key on the reader to reserve his/her own park. When the elevator is moving up to level
needed the elevator will stop automatically. The elevator holds and waits the conveyer parking
the car to the level. The driver needs to give an instruction to move the elevator up or down by
using the control panel on the tag reader.

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Figure 3.5 Elevator system flowcharts

Principal operation of parking
1. Car approaches gate
2. The system detects the car tag and checks with database for authorization.
3. The car is authorized and the system responds by opening the gate.
4. The car drives through the gate.
5. The system closes the gate once the car is through.
6. The car parks on the elevator
7. By entering the appropriated code to the tag reader orders the elevator to takes up the car.
8. The car parks in an available space.
9. The system detects car.
10. The space status is updated within the system.

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

3.2.3 The Exit

The exit allows the car from the parking system. The exit consists of a gate and a tag reader.
If the guest wants to exit from the park system the driver write the code number and park space
ID on the ticket, then push the exist key. Then the drive takes the car to the exit barrier and put
his ticket in the reader fine. The reader fine sends the signal to the server. The server will use the
signal to open the exit gate and subtract car code number and park space ID from the ticket. Then
monitor display at the entry point of the car park adds the available park space by one. Then the
exit barrier will be open and the driver will exit through barrier to his/her own way.

Figure 3.6 Exit system flowcharts

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

Principal operation of leaving park

1. By entering the appropriated code to the tag reader orders the elevator to takes down the
car.
2. Car approaches the exit gate
3. The system detects the car by the exit gate
4. The driver puts the ticket inside the reader
5. The system sends a signal for the exit gate to open
6. The exit gate opens
7. The car leaves the parking premises
8. The exit gate closes

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

4.1 Components and materials used in the system

4.1.1 The Strain gauge
Strain gauge is the sensing device which is used to measure the weight of the car and also used
as a switch to start the server of the system. In this system we use two strain gauges, one at the
entrance gate and second at the exit gate.

4.1.2The Motor
The motor is the rotating device which is used to open or close the gate doors and also used to
move the lift up/down and the conveyer left/right. Generally we use two motors for the entrance
and exit gate and one motor for the lift and for the conveyer two motors.

4.1.3The controller (PLC)

A Programmable controller is a solid state user programmable control system with functions to
control logic, sequencing, timing, arithmetic data manipulation and counting capabilities. It can
be viewed as an industrial computer that has a central processor unit, memory, input output
interface and a programming device.

In the system we have three controllers

1. Entrance controller: used to control the entrance system. The Controller has an input of
strain gauge and scanner signal and an output of motor, alarm, display/counter, timer, and
printer signals.
2. Elevator controller: used to control the elevator system. The Controller has an input of
numerical push button switch signals and an output of motor and timer signals.
3. Exit controller: used to control the exit system. The Controller ha an input of strain
gauge and scanner and an output of motor, and display/counter.

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

These three controllers are interconnected to each other to exchange the data in the database
manager. These mean they have a common CPU to manipulate the system.

4.2 The operation of the system using PLC

4.2.1. The Entrance gate and Elevator system

Principal operation of parking

1. Car approaches the gate.

2. The system detects the car and checks with database for authorization.

3. The car is authorized and the system responds by opening the gate.

4. The car drives through the gate.

5. The system closes the gate once the car passes through.

6. The car parks on the elevator.

7. By entering the appropriated code to the tag reader orders the elevator to takes up the
car.

8. The car parks in an available space.

9. The system detects car.

10. The space status is updated within the system.

4.2.2 Principal operation of leaving and Exit gate system

1. By entering the appropriated code to the tag reader orders the elevator to takes down
the car.

2. Car approaches the exit gate

3. The system detects the car by the exit gate

4. The driver puts the ticket inside the reader

5. The system sends a signal for the exit gate to open

6. The exit gate opens

7. The car leaves the parking premises and the exit gate closed

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Conclusion
In this paper, we described an intelligent car park system based on PLC.
As the number of cars in the world increases from time to time, car parking system became an
important issue. To improve these problems we had a solution by designing an intelligent car
parking.

We analyzed the requirements of intelligent car park Systems. We designed a prototype of an

automated parking system which will automatically park and retrieve the vehicle without the driver
Based on the analysis; we proposed the main system functions and designed the system
architecture. Based on these analysis and design we can have:
 Many park spaces in small land area
 High security management
 Little time usage to park and exit the car
 Small employment in the park
 No car park cognition
 No indiscriminate parking and
 No problem of locating empty parking lots.

5.2 Recommendation

 This intelligent car parking system can be installed with safety installations such as,
whenever there is human movement in the system, the rotation of the platforms should be
immediately stopped.
 The platforms can also be equipped with safety sensors guiding the movement of vehicles in
the platforms.
 It can be fully automated by integrating it with a panel board, such that whenever a particular
number is called on the panel board, the respective platform should appear at the ground level.
 It can also be programmed, so that the platforms travel the minimum distance in the retrieval
of the vehicle.
 As this technology is very important issue the government of one country should give an
attention

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

5.3 Limitation of the study

 We intended to study in brief about the intelligent car parking system using PLC. But this
is not applicable in our country to understand its operation deeply
 Shortage of needed materials such as different machines like duplication machine,
computer, printer, and copy machines
 Shortage of available hardware components to apply our project
 Shortage of money and time.
 Shortage of reference books.

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

REFERANCES
1. Ajitpall.S ,Intelligent car parking system, University of Tenaga, June
28,2002
2. Alan S.M ,Measurement and instrumentation principles ,England,
London ,2001
3. Atul.M&Felipe.L ,Parking lot occupancy tracking system ,2006
4. Frank .D ,Programmable logic controllers ,3rd edition ,New
York ,McGraw-Hill ,2005
5. Greg p.zimmermam,Programmable logic controllers & ladder
logic ,south Dakota school of mines and technology ,April 2008
6. Paolo.F,Intelligent car parking ,Italy ,Millan,Aprill 7,2008
7. S.Avinsh ,Sneha.M,Intellegint car parking system ,R V College of
engineering ,May 2012
8. Dr.SerapAltay,Fully Automatic car parking system ,Cankaya
University ,2012
9. Prof.DrShahidNaveed ,Applied process control systems ,Pakistan
Engineering Council Islamabad, Aprill 2009
10.Vignesh.K,Design the car parking control using PLC ,College University
Technical , Malaysia , May 2006

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

APPENDEX
The Entrance and Exit system
Table 1 Entrance and Exit ladder commentary

SYMBOL ADDRE COMMENT

SS
Stop button I0.0 Used to stop the system
Strain gauge I0.1 Used to measure the car mass (if measured car is accepted switch the
sensor one Switch server(Q0.0))
1
Strain gauge I0.2 If measured car mass is not accepted switch the alarm(Q0.1)
sensor one Switch
2
Reset I0.5 Used to reset the counter(C5)
Limit switch 1 I0.3 Used to limit the moving of the entrance gate to open
Limit switch 2 I0.4 Used to limit the moving of the entrance gate to close
Strain gauge I1.0 Used to start the server (Q1.0)at the exit gate
sensor two Switch
1
Ticket receiver I1.1 Accepts the ticket & count up the park space on counter
Limit switch 3 I1.2 Used to limit the opening of the exit gate
Limit switch 4 I1.3 Used to limit the closing of the exit gate
Timer 1 T33 Keep the time up to the ticket generator (Q0.2) generate the ticket &start the
motor(Q0.6)
Timer 2 T34 Keep the time for the limit switch (I0.3) to hold the open &start motor (Q0.7)
Timer 3 T35 Keep the time for the limit switch (I0.4)
Timer 4 T37 Keep the time for the ticket accepter &start motor(Q1.1)
Timer 5 T38 Keep the time for limit switch (I1.2)&start motor (Q1.2)
Start Q0.0 Used to start ticket generator or alarm depending up on the park space on the
counter (C5)
Start Q0.1 Used to start alarm
Printer Q0.2 Used to generate the ticket depending up on the park space &mass of the car
Alarm 1 Q0.3 Gives light if the car weight is acceptable &there is no park space
Alarm 2 Q0.4 Gives the light if the car weight is not acceptable
Motor 1 Q0.6 Rotates forward to open the entrance gate
Motor 2 Q0.7 Rotates reverse to close the entrance gate
Motor 3 Q1.1 Rotates forward to open the exit gate
Motor 4 Q1.2 Rotates reverse to close the exit gate
Ticket reader Q1.0 Initialize the reader and reads the ticket taken to it
Counter C5 Used to count the number of cars entered to the park & out off the park

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PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

Figure A1 Entrance ladder diagram

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PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

Figure A2 Exit ladder diagram

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 PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

Table 2 Elevator ladder commentary

SYMBOLS ADDRES COMMENTS

S
Number 1 I0.1 Set floor one for the lift to move upward
Number 2 I0.2 Set second floor for the lift to move upward
Number 3 I0.3 Assign park space one for the car
Number 4 I0.4 Assign park space two for the car
Number 5 I0.5 Set the switch of the conveyers to move forward rotation
Number 6 I0.6 Set the switch of the conveyers to move reverse rotation
Start I1.0 Starts the lift(Q0.7) to move upward
Stop I0.0 Used to stop the whole system
Limit switch 1 I1.1 Stop the lift (Q0.2) which is moving downward
Switch 1 Q0.0 Switches the lift(Q0.7)to move to first floor
Switch 2 Q0.1 Switch the lift (Q0.7)to move to second floor
Switch 3 Q0.3 Switch the lift conveyer to the first park space
Switch 4 Q0.4 Switch the lift conveyer to the second park space
Switch 5 Q0.5 Switch the conveyers motor (Q1.0 &Q1.1 or Q1.4&Q1.5) to
rotate forward
Switch 6 Q0.6 Switch the conveyers motors (Q1.0 &Q1.1 or Q1.4&Q1.5) to
rotate reverse
Motor 1 Q0.2 Reverse or downward rotation of the lift
Motor 2 Q0.7 Forward or upward rotation of the lift
Motor 3 Q1.0 Rotates the conveyer on the lift forward
Motor 4 Q1.1 Rotates the conveyer on the park space one forward
Motor 5 Q1.2 Rotates the conveyer on the lift reverse direction
Motor 6 Q1.3 Rotates the conveyer on the park space one reverse direction
Motor 7 Q1.4 Rotates the conveyer on the lift forward
Motor 8 Q1.5 Rotates the conveyer on the park space two forward direction
Motor 9 Q1.6 Rotates the conveyer on the lift reverse direction
Motor 10 Q1.7 Rotates the conveyer on the park space two reverse direction
Timer 1 T37 Keeps the time for the lift to reach the first floor &sops the
lift & starts the conveyers on the first floor
Timer 2 T38 Keeps the time for the lift to reach the second floor &sops
the lift & starts the conveyers on the second floor
Timer 3 T39 Used to reset all the switches & starts the motor (Q0.2) to
come down
Timer 4 T40 Used to de-energize the lift motor (Q0.2)

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PLC BASED INTELLIGENT CAR PARKING

Figure A3 Elevator ladder diagram

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