Using Sensors for Street Light Automation: CE3 Competency Report

This report details a student's competency demonstration for an electrical engineering project aimed at automating street lights to conserve energy. The project focuses on using sensors, specifically infrared (IR) sensors, in conjunction with microcontrollers (AT89S52) to detect vehicle movement and control the illumination of street lights. The report outlines the project's objectives, which include implementing automation, saving electricity, and ensuring cost-effectiveness. The student, acting as team leader, managed team roles, circuit design, and implementation of the automation system. The report further describes the engineering knowledge and skills applied, including the development of a block diagram and circuit schematics. The student addresses issues such as inefficient electricity consumption in traditional street light systems and proposes solutions involving sensor-based activation. The collaborative work, including the implementation of LDRs, is also discussed. The project review highlights the successful modification of existing street light models to operate with minimal electricity consumption, contributing both technical and management expertise. The student's contributions include circuit development, hardware implementation, and team leadership, ensuring the project's objectives were met.

COMPETENCY
DEMONSTRATION REPORT
Career Episode 3

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Using sensors to allow Street Light Glow on Detecting Vehicle
Movement
Location of the project: [PLEASE FILL]
Project Duration: [PLEASE FILL]
Organization: [PLEASE FILL]
Role and Designation during the time: Team Leader
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
Developing countries have always the need of the electricity and it is a concerning factor
for them to save electricity and manage the electrical appliances through less consumption of the
electricity. I identified that the street lights are consuming much electricity than its application
and lots of electricity can be saved through proposing an effective solution for the electricity
consumptions. Street lights are necessary for the night however; after midnight the electricity is
generally wasted a lot as there are very few vehicles on the road during that time. I proposed a
system that will be helpful in managing the glow of the street lights whenever the vehicles
approaches to the street lights on the road. I utilized the IR sensors, LED (Light emitting diodes),
Transistors, and other electronic components in the development of the proposed system.

CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
I considered this project as a crucial for the citizens of my country and tries to assure that
the project is capable of delivering the necessary outputs. Following are the objectives set for the
successful delivery of the project:
 To implement automation in the street lights using electronic components
 To develop a system that is capable of saving electricity
 To assure the minimum budget in manner to be applicable on every road
 To accomplish all the milestones within the expected time and budget
 To eliminate the existing problems of electricity wastage by street lights
CE 3.2.3 My area of work
I was chosen as the team leader for the progress of the project and hence, my primary job
was to manage other team member’s roles and responsibilities and assure that the project is being
executed without any conflict. I divided the entire project in sub-activities and assigned different
team members for the accomplishment of each section. Among those sub – activities, I had to
manage the circuit working in an efficient and effective manner. I had to implement the
automation within the existing street lights for which I used microcontroller AT89S52 in manner
to manage the command exchange in between the sensor, semiconductor, and other electrical
components.

CE 3.2.4 Project Group
CE 3.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I was responsible for the successful accomplishment of every activity of the project in an
efficient and effective manner through assuring that every team member has accomplished their
work as per the planning. I was responsible for managing the entire team and their roles within
the project and motivate every team member to accomplish the milestones and objectives of the
project. My technical responsibility was to implement the circuit that is applicable for the
accomplishment of the necessary objectives and automation of the street lights. I had to assure
that the developed system is capable of saving electricity more than being invested on the new
model.

CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
The proposed project will be helpful in controlling the consumption of the electricity by
the street lights in the remote area. I used the concepts of biasing in the semi – conductors and
information exchanged by the sensors for developing an automated system that will allow the
power to the LEDs of the street light only of the vehicle approaches towards it on the road. “The
Proposed work is to control switching of street light automatically according to light intensity
to develop flow based dynamic control statistics using infrared detection technology and
maintain wireless communication among lamppost and control terminal using ZigBee
Wireless protocol.” I utilized the LED lamps, and infrared photoelectric sensor (G12 – 3C3PA)
for the detection of the vehicles approaching towards the street light.
CE 3.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I developed the following block diagram for laying the path on how to develop the
project and implement the necessary elements:

Figure 1: Block diagram of the proposed system
I used LEDs, AT89S52 microcontroller, infrared LED, and photodiode for the
information exchange between the street lights and vehicles approaching towards them. The
connections of the microcontroller can be demonstrated by the following figure as I connected
the circuit of the microcontroller in following manner:
Figure 2: Pin configuration of the microcontroller
The designed circuit will allow the power transfer only if any vehicle seems to be
approaching towards the road else the streetlight will be turned off always other than during the
night.

CE 3.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
I managed the objectives and goals of the project in manner to motivate every team
member towards the concentric objectives and goals and manage the operational activities of the
project. I lead the team towards the accomplishment of the project constraints through assigning
different roles and responsibilities as per their capacities and capabilities. I managed the effective
communication among the team members through regular meetings in manner to assure that
every individual put their perspective in front of the team and allows the successful deployment
of the project in the real world.
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
3.3.4.1 Issues
Automatic switching in the street lights were already available however; even though
electricity consumption cannot be limited to the efficient level. I identified that street lights are
being turned on event after the midnight when there are very few vehicles on the road and so, it
was a concerning objective to limit the electricity wastage to the extent level.
3.3.4.2 Solutions
I introduced a system that will be helpful in turning on the street lights automatically
whenever the vehicles approaches towards it and thus, the proposed system will be helpful in
assuring that the wastage has been eliminated to the extent level. The infrared photodiode
sensors were helpful in assuring that the power transfer can be made only when the vehicles are
approaching towards the street lights.

CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
Saving electricity and saving the maximum electricity and minimizing the wastage can
only be an innovative approach towards saving electricity. I used the electronic components
stated above for the successful deployment of the suggested project. I used the different
researches and articles wrote in the same context and implemented my innovative skills for the
management of the successful project that is much effective and efficient than others.
CE 3.3.6 Collaborative work
Implementation of the LDRs was an innovative approach towards transforming the
existing street lights into an automated street light that can be helpful in saving the electricity. I
asked the team member to analyse the current properties and constraints before implementing the
new system. I developed the circuit considering the data presented from the research and thus,
developed the system that will consume less electricity than previous system and circuit
connection.
CE 2.3.6 Collaborative work
The accomplishment of the successful is always dependent on the contribution of every
team member in relation to the delivery of the objective and scope of the project. The entire team
has contributed efficiently in the contribution of the successful delivery of the project. I managed
the entire project delivery and the roles of the individual on how to progress the project
development and manage the entire project efficiently. The project as more than one phases and I
appointed a team member to constantly monitor and evaluate the growth and development of the
project in manner to manage the standard and quality of the project output.

CE 3.4 Project Review
CE 3.4.1 Project Overview
I had successfully proposed the model of a project that can be utilized for saving the
electricity being consumed by the street lights through limiting the usage of power by those
lights. I developed a system that will detect the vehicle approaching and sends signal to the
microcontroller fitted in street lights and thus, power starts flowing through the street lights and
it glows. I successfully modified the existing model of the street lights that will be operated
through minimum consumption of the electricity and will stop consuming electricity during day
time and when there is no vehicle on the roads.
CE 3.4.2 My contribution to work
I contributed in both the technical and management aspects of the project considering the
development and growth of a successful project that can be executed to harness electricity and
limit the consumption of the electricity. I developed the circuit and implemented the hardware
equipment those were one of the considerable sectors for the growth and development of the
project. I contributed in the team work that was helpful in delivering the necessary objectives and
goals of the project. I delivered my job in an efficient and effective manner and assured that
every team member will contribute in the same way.