Design and implementation of a smart parking lot using Arduino

Abstract

This research aims to design an intelligent parking management system using Arduino technology, which relies on infrared (IR) sensors to detect vehicles at the entrance and exit. The system consists of a main control unit (Arduino Uno), two IR sensors, a servo motor (SG90) for automatic gate operation, and an LCD display to clearly show available parking spaces to users. The system operates through a specific algorithm where the entrance IR sensor detects incoming vehicles. The system then checks for available spaces, and if confirmed, automatically opens the gate while decreasing the space counter. For exiting vehicles, the second sensor detects departure and increments the counter. When the parking is full, the display shows a "FULL" message while keeping the gate closed. The system achieved satisfactory results with 93% accuracy under moderate lighting conditions and a 1.8-second gate response time. Notably, the system maintains low implementation costs (under $35) and minimal power consumption. Some challenges were encountered, particularly the effect of direct sunlight on sensor accuracy, which was partially mitigated through protective shielding.