Rain Sensing Automatic Car Wiper

Abstract
The automated rain wiper system is used to detect rainfall and activate automobile automatic rain wipers without driver
interaction. The system was developed to mitigate driving distractions and allow drivers to focus on their primary task of driving.
The distraction eliminated with the development of this product is the manual adjustment of windshield wipers when driving in
precipitation. The few seconds that a driver takes their attention off the road to adjust a knob while driving in poor weather
conditions could potentially lead to car accidents. The system uses a combination of impedance and Impedance sensor to detect
rain and its intensity. The system contains a controller that takes in the input signals from the sensors and controls the operation
of the windshield wipers based on those input signals. The prototype demonstration shows the basic operation of the system in
standard conditions. The system responded successfully to rain simulations within the specified amount of time
Keywords- Rain sensor, Microcontroller, Arduino, Servo
Motor._________________________________________________________________________________________________
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I. INTRODUCTION
The team developed an autonomous windshield wiper system for automobiles using impedance sensors, a controller, and signal
conditioning circuitry. The sensors send an input signal to the controller that controls the wiper motor through interfacing with
the automobile wiper control circuitry. The motivation is developing a reliable automatic windshield wiper system that is
commercially available to a big market of automobile owners. Research was done on similar products in the market and articles
from academic sources for the foundation of our design approach.

II. RELATED WORK

For about twenty years, a significant number of researches have been conducted to automatize the windshield wiper systems.
Primitive ideas of using ultrasonic vibrations to remove the raindrops from the windshield or using special coating that prevent
raindrops to form in the windshield has been proven ineffective as drivers found those systems annoying and disturbing. Among
other considered ideas, the idea of using optical rain sensor has proven to be somewhat effective. For this wiper system, an
optical rain sensor was used, which detected the change in the reflection of light projected by another source to determine the
presence of water in the windshield.This system has been produced by TRW Inc. and has been used in recent Cadillac cars
manufactured by General Motors (GM). However, the method has also been proven less effective for certain circumstances.
Renowned automotive companies such as Toyota Motor Corporation and Honda Motor Companies have launched their new
vehicles equipped with rainsensing wipers. Additionally, other companies, for example Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen
AG, are also bringing in rain-sensing wipers into the market. Specific information about the wiper system of those vehicles is not
available, as those vehicles are not available in the market yet.

III. PROPOSED SYSTEM

A. Architecture diagram

Fig. 1: Architecture diagram

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 The rain sensor is placed on the vehicle front glass where it can detect rainfall. The rain sensor, servo motor and other
required components get power from the battery. When the rain droplets fall on the rain board, the control board of the rain
sensing unit sends the signal to the Arduino Uno module. The Arduino module estimates the intensity of rain fall by
manipulating the signal given by the rain sensor module and then gives signal to the servo motor according to the rain fall. The
servo motor takes the signal in the form of pulse width modulation and rotates the wiper in accordance with the signal given by
the Arduino module. The wiper rotates as fast as the intensity of the rain fall. If the rain fall intensity is low the wiper will rotate
slowly and if the rain fall intensity is high then wiper will rotate speedily. This system avoids the interaction of the vehicle
operator to operate the wiper. So, operator will concentrate on the driving. Due to this there is a chance to reduce the accidents.

B. Data Flow Diagram

Fig. 2: Level 0 Data Flow Diagram

Fig. 3: Level 1 Data Flow Diagram

C. Module Description

After careful analysis the system has been identified to have the following modules:

1) Hardware Module
2) Hardware to Software Interaction
3) Google Map

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1.) Hardware Module
In this module we have created hardware part A rain sensing module is used for measuring the intensity of rainfall. And a servo
motor is used for controlling the wiper movements. An LCD module is also attached to the controller for displaying the rainfall
intensity. By measuring the amount of rainfall, controller will adjust the speed of servo motor. Servo is controlled by generating
PWM signal at its signal line.

2.) Hardware to Software Interaction

In this module we will create a java program which will continuously read the value from hardware and will store in the
database.

3.) Google Maps

This module will show driver where it is raining in google map.

IV. OUTPUT AND RESULTS

Fig. 4: Hardware Model

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 Fig. 5: Google map

V. FUTURE ENHANCEMENT

We will store water so that we can re-use it.

VI. CONCLUSION

The automated automatic rain wiper system will be designed, developed, and demonstrated to detect rain and actuate the
automobile windshield wipers based on the intensity of that rain. This project will be able to simulate the operation of the system
as if installed in an automobile. The team was able to successfully complete the project and satisfactorily meet the proposal goal
of automating the driver’s response to rain within the specified amount of time of few milliseconds. In addition, the team would
schedule project milestones differently taking into consideration parts of the project that were most significant and consequently
required the most effort to complete. The initial goals and objectives were to expand upon existing automatic rain wiper
technologies to make a more reliable yet economically priced system. As shown by the project demonstration.

VII. REFERENCES
[1] NHTSA Data Sheet, 2001, Available HTTP:
http://wwwnrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-12/809-716/pages/longdesc.htm

[2] “The Rain Tracker Makes Driving More Enjoyable,” [Online Document],
Available
http://www.raintracker.com/ProductInfo.htm

[3] “TRW Automotive Electronics: Rain Sensor,” 2007, [Online Document],

Available
http://www.trw.com/images/rain_sensor.pdf