Vehicle detection

iostream212

Active Member
Anybody have reliable (sensor based, non-camera) vehicle detection up and running? What are you using? Would you do it differently next time? I would like a solution for the garage and driveway. My garage is unfinished so it would be ok to rip into the walls to install wiring (I am a wiring freak and do everything inwall). I have smurf tube in the garage walls running to my HA panels. Driveway may have less options. I can not think of a discreet way to install a vehicle probe sensor that would not result in a wire running across my driveway. I am looking forward to messing around with Stick-N-Find. Apparently it will have a API available which could work well if you have BT on your HA server. That approach may work well since each vehicle will have its own unique id. Thanks!

 
 
I didn't think about RFID. I'll check that out! Does the LPR plugin work well for iSpy? I don't have a camera in a good spot or else I'd try it myself. I do have a camera thats mounted higher over the garage door overlooking the driveway but its mount broke! <_< I had to adjust it one day and the extra 1/4 turn on the extension arm snapped the thing off. Lesson learned. Tough stuff!
 
If you use 2 motion or beam detectors and have a Vera, you can use the Program Logic plugins to determine the direction of the vehicle also.
 
Two detectors to determine motion direction is a cool idea. I wondered that myself regarding determining interior home movement. I think I will wait for my stick n finds to arrive. Contacted the vendors for an api, but nothing yet.
 
Do a search for Cluster on the forum. I used this RFID solution with my Elk and wrote something up on it.
 
I'm assuming you are 1) talking to me, and 2) about the license plate setup?  If so, I haven't tried the plugin myself, but noticed this feature while adding the software to the new security camera software database.
 
Anyone have supplier links for cheaper RFID?
 
I just go to the Ebay link for Ananiah.   I do not think that Cheaper RFID is out there anymore. 
 
http://stores.ebay.com/Ananiah-Electronics?_trksid=p2047675.l2563
 
Here too into wiring a bit.  I did install a camera and PIR's in the garage a couple of years ago.  Been using the cheaper RFID stuff for many years only though for the vehicles; I have the transmitters adjacent to the dome lights in the headliner under the metal hood and they do well.  I only really care though about sensing the cars in the driveway and garage.  I do utilize three different receivers such that I do not get false positives and use all three to validate the RF tags; a bit overill.
 
Easy to test/check by connecting a serial connection to the reciever and watching your tags id numbers.  Works well for me and cheap. 
 
Lately its been making the garage daylight like when the cars pull in after hearing a story of a neighbor trying to get a coyote out of the garage.  Years ago had a pesky possum (very mean when confronted) in the garage.  Just left the garage door open one night and it left.  It did soil up the garage some though.
 
I use Cartell and tie it into an HAI panel.
I run Haiku and send sms messages when a vehicle enters.
Works every time.
 
+ on Cartell
 
I also have Cartell sensors adjacent to the driveway and those work well also for general car sensing on the driveway.  They have been in business a long time now (in computer years).
 
Back
Top