Arduino project · Motors and movement · Medium
Parking Gate Opens When a Slot Is Free
The gate stays closed when all four slots are full and opens when at least one is free.
What you will learn
- How to check if any of several sensors says free
- How a gate is controlled
- How smart car parks work
How it works
The gate closes (0) first. Each sensor that sees an empty slot then opens it (90).
Try this next
- Add a FULL sign.
- Add an entry sensor so the gate closes behind the car.
- Count the cars with a variable.
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 gate
The barrier opens only when there is at least one free slot. Switch the IR sensors to fill up the slots.
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.
- IR sensors = cars in the slots
- Servo = the entry barrier