Final Year Project Proposal: GSM Based Automatic Street Light Control

This project proposal outlines the design of an automatic street light controller circuit integrated with a GSM device, utilizing a relay and Light Dependent Resistor (LDR). The primary aim is to reduce electrical consumption and costs associated with public street lighting by implementing a system that automatically switches lights on and off based on ambient light levels, while also relaying real-time information to a control center via a GSM network for monitoring and maintenance purposes. The system employs LDRs to detect light intensity changes, triggering the lights and sending corresponding messages through the GSM device. Key components include the IC CA3140 amplifier, capacitors, and a relay bridge to manage voltage and current flow. The project addresses challenges such as calibrating the LDR for optimal light detection and ensuring seamless communication between the microcontroller and the GSM device. Expected outcomes include cost-effective electricity usage, automated lighting control, and efficient system monitoring through relayed messages. The project will be completed with a budget of $150, utilizing resources and equipment such as transistors, resistors, and a GSM device.

Final Year Project Proposal
Title: How to design an Automatic Street Light Controller Circuit with GSM
device using Relay and LDR
Proposer:
Degree Pathway(s):
Project Aim(s): To come up with a solution that will reduce the electrical
consumption and bill for the public street lighting which uses GSM network to relay
messages to control center.

Description:
There is always a rising need for proper control of street lighting. The increasing
electricity bills have become a major problem for councils. Early switch on, and late
switch off of the street lights are able to increase the electricity bills. In addition, lack
of proper monitoring of the working street lights has also risen. Automatic lighting of
the lights is the solution which is likely to solve these emerging issues. Real-time
information needs to be relayed to the control center that the lights are on for proper
monitoring. With the information, maintenance team will have an easy time to locate
problems in the system. This can be achieved by having an automatic lighting system
which can relay messages when the lights go on and when they go off. The system is
designed such that it will detect the changes between the light and darkness and
therefore be able to trigger the lighting on and off of the lights. This system will use
sensors which can sense light and control the lighting according to the intensity of the
light present. The project will utilize Light Depended Resistors (LDRs) which are
semiconductor materials. A GSM networking device will be connected to relay
messages according to changes effected. The LDRs are light sensitive, and they are
the main key components. The LDR will be able to control the lighting systems and
ensure that lighting system functions effectively. The LDRs which are also photo
resistors works on the principle of photoconductivity. This principle states that when
the light falls on the surface of LDR, the conductance of the element increases. This
means that the resistance of the LDR reduces when it is struck by a beam of light.
The LDR will, therefore, trigger the reactions based on the quantity of light striking its
surface. Another main material which will be utilized in this project will be cadmium
suphide (CdS).
This project will be built on a circuit which is based on IC CA3140 which is operated
by an amplifier and can unite the voltage PMOS transistors to the high voltage bipolar
transistors. The key factor in this project will be to design the resistance control of the
system and therefore determine at the level when the lights will go on and off. Current
flow in any systems is determined by the level of resistance available. The current
flow through a resistor is directly proportional to the voltage that appears on the
resistor. Another key component of the system will be the capacitors. The capacitors
are made of materials which dielectric medium flow between the available capacitors.
Also, the project will utilize the relay, which will provide the isolation between the
controller and the main device. This will ensure that the device is monitored in terms
of its working condition and analyze whether the device is working on both AC and
DC. The relay bridge will be important since it has to receive the signals from the
microcontroller which the DC works on. Most importantly, the relay will be used
when there is need to control a significant amount of current or voltage with small
electrical signals. Electrical isolations will be monitored in this project to ensure that
the powering on and off of the electric lights happens on the right moments and
messages are transmitted promptly.
Objectives - expected outcome(s) and deliverables:
The following are the expected outcome when this project is completed;
1. To identify challenges involved in street lighting
2. Design a system which will be able to monitor the electric lighting of street
lights automatically.
3. Controlled cost and electricity usage since the lighting is automatic.
4. Relayed messages and therefore proper system control will be achieved.

Staff Expertise: please enter names of any staff you have discussed ideas with
in formulating this proposal
An electrician -
Resources, equipment required and any purchases
The budget of the project is small, and most of the material will be accessed from the
electrician. In addition, the electric system in the school will be used to demonstrate
the working of the automatic system. In addition, the routine of the purchase of the
item for the student will follow the school routine. The details of the project will be
listed down, and the electrician will make the purchases on my behalf. A cost of $150
will be sufficient to carry out the project.
Resources - equipment required;
1. Transistor BC547 -2
2. LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)
3. Relay
4. Resistor 1k
5. 100k Potentiometer
6. Power Supply 12v -1
7. Connecting wires
8. Jumper wires
9. Screw terminal Block 2 pin or 3 pin
10. Bread Board or Perf Board
11. 1n4007 Diode
12. AC supply
13. AC Load or Bulb
14. GSM device
Nature Of Academic Challenge:
One of the significant academic challenges on this project likely to experience is how
to control the level of darkness and light on which the LDR has to change the switch
option. Some of the LDRs in the market will require total darkness to ensure that they
prompt the change for the street light to turn on. In our case, we will expect a system
which will be able to detect a medium amount of light present and therefore trigger
the change to turn on the lights. The LDR will, therefore, be configured to ensure that
the microcontroller can detect the specified change in the system.
In addition, to ensure that the council team can know which lights have turned on and
which are yet to turn, the GSM device will be able to relay the messages on the
change. Connecting the GSM device will not be easy since this device has to read the
change which the microcontroller has prompted. This means that another LDR has to
be available to detect the switch in the lighting system and trigger the SMS relay to
the control room. The microcontroller has to relay the change to the GSM device
which in turn will automatically relay a message went it receives a signal on the
change.