Automated Railway Gate Controller

Abstract

A level crossing is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road or path at the same level, as opposed to the railway line crossing over or under using a bridge or tunnel. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-ofway or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion. Railroad trains have a much larger mass relative to their braking capability, and thus a far longer braking distance than road vehicles. In general, trains do not stop at level crossings but rely on vehicles and pedestrians to clear the tracks in advance. Level crossings constitute a significant safety concern internationally. In India numerous numbers of railways are running on track every day. Every year many people die at the level crossing of the rail-line due to the carelessness of the gate keeper. Also some major collisions occur when any vehicle gets stuck at the level crossing. The rate of these accidents is increasing day by day. That’s why our concept is to make an automatic system to avoid the collisions at the level crossing of the rail-line. An automatic railway gate control system is an arrangement of physical components which sense the arrival of the train and make the gate pull up and pull down automatically. As a train approaches at the railway crossing from either side, the sensors placed at a certain distance from the gate detect the approaching train and accordingly controls the operation of the gate. Also an indicator light has been provided to alert the driver of the train if any vehicle or living object gets stuck at the level crossing of the rail-line. By employing the automatic gate control at the railway level crossing the arrival of the trains are detected by the IR sensors placed on either side of the gate. Once the arrival is sensed, the sensed signal is sent to the microcontroller and it checks the possible presence of any vehicle between the gates, again using sensor. Once no vehicle is sensed in between the railway gate then the motor is activated and the gates are closed. But if any obstacle is sensed it is indicated to the train drivers and necessary steps are taken according to solve the emergency problems. When the train is passed through using the same process gate is opened.