[SOLVED] Vehicle Detection in Parking Garage

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello,

For a school project I am trying to detect vehicles passing to get to the top level of a parking garage. My current design is using two ultrasonic sensors spaced out (i.e. 4 feet) and if the sensors get a reading simultaneously, then it would classify it as a vehicle. Whichever sensor gets a reading first would consider it an entry/exit. However, I am considering adding a magnetic field sensor on the exit and entry sides assurance that a vehicle is entering the top level or exiting. What magnetic field sensor would be recommended? Also, is this model reasonable to try to count the parking spots without having a sensor at each individual parking spot?

Thank you.

2

Ultrasonic sensor doesn't so easily make difference between human or car, magnetic does.

Individual model gives information where the free spot is, so it needs less additional mapping.

3

That would be the most stable sensor you can get on the inexpensive. It will work much better then sound.

4

Do you have any recommendations of magnetic field sensor that is inexpensive that I can mount on the ground? I've heard that the HMC5883L is good.

5

I cannot recommend a unit but check this out. FM138 Driveway Vehicle Sensor for Easy DIY Installation – Mighty Mule

6

Well, in this application I just want to know how many are available, not which spot. Do you have any recommended magnetic field sensors? Would there be limitations since a car could be driving adjacent to the sensor and still cause a distortion?

7

It needs to be "calibrated" for that situation. No sensor is good without reference.

8

Mighty Mule is great equipment. I have used their gate controller and other components for over 15 years on my driveway gate. But no car detector.

9

Hello,

Any recommendations for a sensor to detect a vehicle? I'm using a HMC5883 currently and would like to know if there are better suggestions (i.e. LiDAR, radar, ultrasonic) . Note that this would be in a parking garage and I am tracking if a vehicle drives over the sensor.

10

A simple ultrasonic sensor would probably work, although it would be detecting "a thing" rather than a vehicle.

11

Ultrasonic or IR sensors are simple and cheap. You could use two of them 0.5m apart to eliminate detection from smaller "objects".

12

You have a similar topic already open

Was there something wrong with those answers?

13

The Mighty Mule recommendation wouldn't really work well in my application I believe. Wanted to see different ideas in a new post, but I believe I got it now.

14

You will have the same people, including me wasting time replying to both topics and giving the same answers.
You should close one of the posts.

15

How about an induction coil buried in the floor and an off the shelf sensor box that trips when a ferrous mass (a steel car) moves over the coil?