
Control your installations through Open Source Platforms
This project allows access control in a parking area, and automates the opening of the gate through a system which uses an RFID sensor connected to anindustrial PLC by Industrial Shields.
Each user owns a unique card which contains the access data. A local database is stored in the SD memory card and it contains all the user access references. The system also monitors all the card reading process and allows the users to have knowledge about the process.
Summary
Using this installation, each user will have a personalized card with a unique reference. All the references will be stored in an external server.
Each time that the database is modified, the industrial controller will update it on its memory card. When RFID sensor detects a registered reference, it activates the motor until the gate is fully open.
Goal
Our customer wants to control the access to the parking of his company using Open Source technology with a single controller Arduino that has the knowledge of all the registered users. It can also be remotely modified, acts on the gate and allows to monitor the full process.
What do we do?
The company was looking for an easily integrated PLC controller, using multiple communication protocols (Ethernet, SPI/I2C, UART) and also with its own buffer, to allow database storage.

With industrial Arduino Ethernet PLC, all the specified requirements were fulfilled.

The efficent way to have Monitoring Installations is using Industrial Shields devices.
You have the control of your business.

Conclusion
The programmable logic controllers must be able to detect correctly the parking card, check whether the user is a part of the allowed customers, and open the gate in case the statement is correct.
On the other hand, the company must also be able to manage the users database remotely through a server in the cloud. The process of reading the card will be displayed on an Industrial Shields Panel PC while the user is making the entry.
The Hardware
An Industrial Project with Arduino and Raspberry Pi
An RFID sensor (RC522) is used to read the card through the Weigand 26 communication protocol via SPI/I2C. Once the user is confirmed, the Ethernet PLC will act on the servomotor to open and subsequently close the gate.
Next to the RFID, an Industrial Shields Panel PC connected to the PLC Arduino is installed through the serial port using UART protocol to monitor the status of the card reading process.
For the database, the server system will be connected to the cloud and if it is modified, the Ethernet PLC is notified and modifies the local database in the SD memory.
Do you want to receive more information about RFID, PLC and parking management?
Open Source technology allows you to develop your Monitor and Control applications.
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