Research on a PLC Simulation Control Apparatus for Intelligent Traffic Lights

Abstract

In this paper an intelligent traffic light simulation control apparatus based on PLC and touch panel is developed. The device uses the touch panel as the master computer, PLC as the control kernel, the photoelectric switch and the sound sensor for vehicle detection components, to control the traffic lights and nixie tubes. Some conventional functions are realized to simulate the real road traffic lights control system, for example, alternatively working of the red lights, the yellow lights and the green lights, time countdown showing function, manual adjustment of the time, etc. Besides, the system can automatically adjust the time of traffic lights by the traffic flow in different directions, and can automatically change the working modes of the traffic lights by the current system time. The practical application shows that the device can not only promote students’ learning interests and improve students’ practical ability and creativity, but also can be used to control the real traffic lights if the traffic flow detectors are substituted by the earth inductors or the infrared cameras.