Arduino project · Distance and parking · Hard
Parking Gate Car Counter
Two IR sensors at the car park gate count cars in and out. The red LED shows that the car park is full (more than 5 cars).
What you will learn
- How a gate counts entry and exit
- How to use a counter to show FULL
- How to find direction from the order of two sensors
How it works
Sensor 1 first means a car enters. Sensor 2 first means a car leaves. Above 5 cars the red FULL light is on.
Try this next
- Add a servo barrier that shuts when full.
- Show the free spaces instead.
- Add a ticket buzzer.
The simulator program and explanation on this page are original. The idea follows a classic Arduino project that students have built for years.
Parts: sensors and actuators (tap to show or hide)
Try the inputs (virtual sensors)
Pins (you can change them)
| Part | Arduino pin (change it here) | How to wire it |
|---|
Every wire, one by one
Red rail = 5 V from the Arduino 5V pin. Black rail = GND. The coloured wires carry signals. Match the wire colours on the drawing to this list.
| # | Colour | From (part and leg) | To |
|---|
Steps run from top to bottom, then start again. While the simulation runs, the active step is highlighted in green.
Quantities come from the parts you added. The store links open a search for that item on Robu.in, Amazon.in and ThinkRobotics, so you always see what is in stock today. Check the model, voltage and price before you order.
| # | Item | Qty | Search term | Buy / compare |
|---|
The PDF has the circuit sketch, pin table, every wire, sequence, full code, the parts list with store links, do’s and don’ts for each part, and the safety notes. The project file lets you come back and keep editing.
In the real world
A car park entry counter
A car breaks one beam then the other. The order tells if it is coming in or going out.
Tip: use the gold tab at the bottom of the circuit drawing to pull the real-world view up over the Arduino board. Your parts stay visible above it, so you can press a button and watch the real scene react.
- Two IR sensors = entry and exit beams
- Red LED = car park full