KISSAN INTERNATIONAL

SCHOOL AND Jr.

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

TO DESIGN AN AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM

PRESENTED BY :

NAME : KUSHAGRA SHARMA

CLASS : XII – CBSE

SUBJECT : PHYSICS

SUBJECT TEACHER : AVINASH SOMWANSHI SIR

PRINCIPAL NAME : MANOJ RATHOR

YEAR : 2024-2025
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that [Kushagra Sharma], a student of Class 12, has successfully
completed the project 'Designing an Automatic Traffic Signal System Using Logic Gates'
under my supervision. This project is a part of the Physics curriculum for the academic
year and demonstrates the student's ability to apply scientific principles to solve practical
problems.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have supported and guided me
throughout the course of this project on designing an automatic traffic signal system using logic
gates. This project has not only helped me apply theoretical concepts from my Physics
curriculum, but also provided me with valuable insights into real-world applications of digital
electronics.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my Physics teacher, for their constant guidance,
encouragement, and constructive feedback throughout the project. Their deep knowledge and
patience in explaining the complex topics of digital electronics, such as logic gates and circuit
design, played a crucial role in helping me understand and implement the concepts practically.

I am also grateful to my school, for providing me with access to the necessary resources and
laboratory equipment that were essential for the successful completion of this project. The
support from the school’s laboratory staff, especially in helping me with the practical aspects of
setting up the circuits and testing them, was invaluable.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to my parents, who have always been a pillar of support, motivating
me and providing a conducive environment for my studies. Their encouragement helped me stay
focused and dedicated throughout the course of this project.

Lastly, I am grateful to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the National
Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for designing a curriculum that
emphasizes not only theoretical knowledge but also practical application, which has greatly
enhanced my understanding of Physics.

This project has been an enriching experience for me, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to
explore the practical aspects of digital electronics. I am confident that the knowledge and skills
gained through this project will be beneficial to me in my future academic pursuits.

Thank you.

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 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The primary objective of this project is to design an automatic traffic signal system using a
combination of logic gates. In today's rapidly urbanizing world, efficient traffic management is
crucial for maintaining the smooth flow of vehicles and ensuring road safety. Traditional traffic
systems that rely on fixed timers often result in inefficiencies, such as long waiting times at
intersections, which leads to unnecessary delays, fuel consumption, and pollution. By automating
traffic control with logic gates, this project aims to provide a more intelligent, responsive, and
efficient solution to these problems.

Through this project, I seek to apply key theoretical concepts from digital electronics,
specifically logic gates and Boolean algebra. The project will focus on demonstrating how the
fundamental principles of AND, OR, NOT, NAND, and NOR gates can be used to control the
sequence of traffic lights (red, yellow, and green) based on real-time inputs such as traffic
density and pedestrian crossings. This approach offers a significant improvement over
conventional traffic systems, as it adapts to changing conditions on the road, ensuring better
traffic flow and reduced congestion.

The purpose of this project is to explore and demonstrate the practical application of digital
electronics in solving real-world challenges. It will also highlight the importance of automation
in modern infrastructure, emphasizing how simple logic circuits can be used to manage complex
systems. Through the design of this automatic traffic signal system, I aim to enhance my
understanding of circuit design, Boolean logic, and their potential applications in everyday life.

This project will not only reinforce my conceptual understanding of digital logic but also inspire
me to pursue further studies in electronics and automation, fields that are essential for the
development of smarter, more efficient urban systems.

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 ACTION PLAN

This action plan outlines the steps required to complete the project efficiently within a limited
timeframe. It focuses on understanding the theoretical concepts, designing the logic circuit, and
preparing the project report.

1. Understand the Concept

● Objective: Grasp the key concepts of logic gates and how they are used in traffic systems.

● Activities:

● Study the functions of basic logic gates (AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR) from the
NCERT Physics textbook.

● Review the role of digital circuits in automating systems like traffic signals.

● Note the operation of each gate and its application in controlling traffic lights.

● Outcome: Solid understanding of the role of logic gates in automating traffic signals.

2. Design the Logic Circuit

● Objective: Develop a theoretical model for the traffic signal system.

● Activities:

● Create truth tables for different traffic light conditions (red, yellow, green).

● Write Boolean expressions based on the truth table for each light.

● Draw a circuit diagram using logic gates to represent the automated system.

● Outcome: A well-constructed theoretical circuit diagram using logic gates and Boolean
logic.

3. Write the Project Report

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 ● Objective: Document the project with clear explanations and diagrams.

● Activities:

● Write an introduction that outlines the purpose of the project.

● Explain the functions of the logic gates, truth tables, Boolean expressions, and the circuit
design.

● Include illustrations of the circuit and the logic behind it.

● Outcome: A complete project report with a clear structure and detailed explanations.

4. Review and Finalize

● Objective: Finalize the project for submission.

● Activities:

● Review the report to ensure clarity and correctness.

● Make any necessary corrections to the circuit diagram and explanations.

● Ensure the report is well-organized and ready for submission.

● Outcome: A thoroughly reviewed and polished project report.

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 INDEX

● Introduction

● Experiment :

● Aim

● Apparatus and Material Required

● Principle

● Procedure

● Observations

● Result

● Precautions

● Bibliography

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 Introduction

LOGIC GATES :

A logic gate is a device that performs a Boolean function, a logical operation performed
on one or more binary inputs that produces a single binary output. Depending on the
context, the term may refer to an ideal logic gate, one that has, for instance, zero rise
time and unlimited fan-out, or it may refer to a non-ideal physical device (see ideal and
real op-amps for comparison).

The primary way of building logic gates uses diodes or transistors acting as electronic
switches. Today, most logic gates are made from MOSFETs (metal–oxide–
semiconductor field-effect transistors). They can also be constructed using vacuum tubes,
electromagnetic relays with relay logic, fluidic logic, pneumatic logic, optics, molecules,
acoustics, or even mechanical or thermal elements.

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Logic gates can be cascaded in the same way that Boolean functions can be composed,
allowing the construction of a physical model of all of Boolean logic, and therefore, all of
the algorithms and mathematics that can be described with Boolean logic. Logic
circuits include such devices as multiplexers, registers, arithmetic logic units (ALUs),
and computer memory, all the way up through complete microprocessors, which may
contain more than 100 million logic gates.

Compound logic gates AND-OR-Invert (AOI) and OR-AND-Invert (OAI) are often
employed in circuit design because their construction using MOSFETs is simpler and
more efficient than the sum of the individual gates.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL (OR A TRAFFIC CONTROLLER):

A traffic signal is typically controlled by a controller mounted inside a cabinet. Some electro-
mechanical controllers are still in use (New York City still had 4,800 as of 1998, though the
number is lower now due to the prevalence of the signal controller boxes). However, modern
traffic controllers are solid state. The cabinet typically contains a power panel, to
distribute electrical power in the cabinet; a detector interface panel, to connect to loop
detectors and other detectors; detector amplifiers; the controller itself; a conflict monitor unit;
flash transfer relays; a police panel, to allow the police to disable the signal; and other
components.

In the United States, controllers are standardized by the NEMA, which sets standards for
connectors, operating limits, and intervals. The TS-1 standard was introduced in 1976 for the
first generation of solid-state controllers.

Solid state controllers are required to have an independent conflict monitor unit (CMU), which
ensures fail-safe operation. The CMU monitors the outputs of the controller, and if a fault is
detected, the CMU uses the flash transfer relays to put the intersection to FLASH, with all red
lights flashing, rather than displaying a potentially hazardous combination of signals. The CMU

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is programmed with the allowable combinations of lights, and will detect if the controller gives
conflicting directions, for instance, green signals facing both northbound and eastbound traffic at
a cross intersection. Conflict monitors are susceptible to false activation during thunderstorms
due to power surges and noise induced by nearby lightning strikes.

In the late 1990s, a national standardization effort known as the advanced transportation
controller (ATC) was undertaken in the United States by the Institute of Transportation
Engineers. The project attempts to create a single national standard for traffic light controllers.
The standardization effort is part of the National Intelligent transportation system program
funded by various highway bills, starting with ISTEA in 1991, followed by TEA-21, and
subsequent bills. The controllers will communicate using National Transportation
Communications for ITS Protocol (NTCIP), based on Internet Protocol, ISO/OSI, and ASN.1.

Traffic lights must be instructed when to change stage and they are usually coordinated so that
the stage changes occur in some relationship to other nearby signals or to the press of a
pedestrian button or to the action of a timer or a number of other inputs.

Traffic management is an essential part of ensuring smooth and safe movement of vehicles and
pedestrians on roads, especially in busy urban areas. With the growing number of vehicles,
traditional traffic signals, which operate on fixed time intervals, often lead to inefficiencies such
as long waiting times, even when there is no traffic. To address this problem, we can design an
automatic traffic signal system using basic concepts from digital electronics, specifically logic
gates. By using logic gates to design this traffic control system, we can build a reliable, cost-
effective, and efficient solution. The project will demonstrate how the basic principles of digital
electronics such as truth tables, Boolean logic, and circuit design, can be applied to solve real-
world problems like traffic management.

In this project, we will use simple logic circuits to control traffic signals at an intersection. The
goal is to switch the lights in a way that maximizes the flow of traffic and reduces waiting times.
For instance, if the system detects a long queue of vehicles in one lane, it will extend the green
light for that lane until the traffic clears. Likewise, if there are no vehicles detected in one
direction, the system will switch the green light to other lanes where vehicles are waiting.

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AIM :

To design an automatic traffic signal system using suitable combination of logic gates.

APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED :

LEDs (of red, yellow, green colours) four each, one IC 555 timer, one IC 7490, two NOT gates
(or a single IC 7400), four NAND gates (or single IC 7400), capacitors of 0.1 µF, 10µF (16 V),
resistors of 5.6 k Ω, 150 k Ω (1 W) each, four resistors of 220 k Ω (1 W) each, two resistors of
47 k Ω (1 W) each, battery, switch.

PRINCIPLE

Integrated circuit (IC) is an extremely small sized electronic circuit which incorporates a whole
system of electronic components and devices. Depending on the number of components
fabricated on a chip, the integrated circuits are classified into various classes; 555 timer, IC 7400
etc. are examples of MSI (Medium Scale Integrated) circuits. Any logic gate operation can be
achieved by using suitable IC's. The basic arrangement of traffic light system which is used at a
common roadcrossing is shown in Fig 1.1 .

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Fig 1.1 : Schematic diagram of basic road traffic light system

Each traffic light system uses red, yellow and green lights. These days LEDs are used for this
purpose (represented here by R1 , Y1 , G1 ; R2 , Y2 , G2 ; R3 , Y3 , G3 and R4 , Y4 , G4 ). In
traffic light system, usually the lights of the same colour on the opposite sides of the cross roads
are either ON or OFF simultaneously, so the LED pairs R1 and R3 , R2 and R4 , Y1 and Y3 , Y2
and Y4 , G1 and G3 and G2 and G4 are connected in series. This arrangement is shown in Fig.
1.2 .

IC 7490 is a decade counter. As the name suggests, it produces one output pulse for every 10
input pulses.

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IC 555 is a highly stable timing circuit capable of producing accurate time delays or oscillations.
The time period is controlled by an external resistor-capacitor combination. There is also a
provision for triggering and resetting of the timer.

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Fig :1.2 Circuit diagram of basic circuit for automatic traffic light system

In this traffic light system if the red light will remain ON for 8 seconds (or 8 units of time), the
yellow light for 2 seconds and green light for 10 seconds then the ratio of timings of red, yellow
and green lights is 4:1:5. IC 555 acts as a timer IC which works on the principle of charging and
discharging of a capacitor connected in series with the resistor and that gives high or low output
after a regular interval of time. In the present situation, it is used to give a square wave output
whose time period can be varied by using suitable values of resistances Ra and Rb and
capacitance C1 . The time period of such timer is given by

T = 0.693 (Ra + Rb ) C1 ~ 0.693 RaC1 since Ra >> Rb

IC 7490 performs the function of a decade counter.

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PROCEDURE :

1. Connect the components as per the circuit arrangement shown in Fig. 1.1.

2. Take a plywood board and paint it in black colour (road colour).

3. Mount the LEDs R1 , Y1 , G1 ; R2 , Y2 , G2 ; R3 , Y3 , G3 ; R4 , Y4 , G4 on four different

4. Check the circuit connections twice and close the switch S1 for functioning of the traffic light
system.

OBSERVATIONS:

Table 1.1 : Requirements of lights to remain ON at different counts of time (1:ON, 0:OFF)

RESULT:

By closing the switch S1 the traffic light system starts action for demonstration.

PRECAUTIONS:

1. Take sufficient care in soldering the components used in the circuit arrangement in order to
avoid dry solder joints.

2. Use IC base so as not to damage the IC by directly soldering it.

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 STUDENT REFLECTIONS

Working on the project to design an automatic traffic signal system using logic gates has been an
enriching and educational experience. Throughout the process, I deepened my understanding of
key concepts in digital electronics, specifically how logic gates (AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR)
are used to create functional systems that address real-world problems. This project provided a
practical way to apply theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom, giving me a clearer
understanding of how these circuits operate in real-world applications.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was learning how to break down complex
systems, such as traffic management, into smaller, manageable parts using simple Boolean logic
and truth tables. By creating truth tables and Boolean expressions, I was able to visualize how
traffic signals could be controlled logically based on input conditions, such as the presence of
vehicles at an intersection.

Additionally, this project taught me the importance of precision and accuracy in designing
circuits. Each gate and connection in the system plays a crucial role, and understanding how they
interact was critical to ensuring the circuit functioned correctly. This process helped me develop
better problem-solving skills as I navigated through designing, simplifying, and ensuring the
theoretical circuit would work efficiently.

I also realized how essential automation has become in modern-day systems, from traffic
management to larger infrastructure solutions. It highlighted for me the vast potential of
electronics and automation in improving the efficiency of everyday operations, making me more
interested in exploring fields related to digital electronics and system design.

Overall, the project gave me a sense of accomplishment and a new appreciation for how
theoretical physics concepts can be applied to practical, real-world challenges. It has sparked my
curiosity to further explore how technology can be used to create smarter, more efficient systems
in various industries.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

For the project, I have referred to the following sources :

1. Comprehensive (Practical Physics – XII)

2. Internet : www.wikipedia.com

3. NCERT TEXTBOOKS

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