LEGO T-Intersection LED Traffic Light

Video not playing? See it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tiiWwC6Zo

Background
Every Christmas we set up a large LEGO train layout in a section of the living room. This year, I ended up winning an eBay auction for a number of older-model LEGO road plates, one of which included a T-intersection. At about the same time, I saw a web magazine article on how to get started programming an Arduino embedded microcontroller. I'm a computer programmer by trade.

Inspiration
It seemed obvious to me at this point that a perfect project would be to create an LED traffic light out of LEGO bricks, some LEDs and resistors and an Arduino Nano controller. The T-Intersection became the center-piece of the layout. This Instructable will lead you through building the traffic light, as well as illustrate how the Arduino program works.

Take Two
This is my second attempt at building the traffic light. On the first attempt, my 9-year old son helped me. Being slightly impatient, as 9-year-olds are apt to be, I was left with no time to take detailed photographs. The LEDs I used, found in my parts bin, were also extremely dim: bright at night, but invisible in the day.

With this second attempt, I obtained much brighter LEDs from a string of LED Christmas Tree lights that only half lit up. I also took very detailed close-up photographs with a brand new Sony DSC-TX5 digital camera that can close focus down to 1cm. I've annotated many of the photos.

Alternates
You can choose to build this Instructable as presented or just use it for inspiration for your own creation. I realize that LEGO T-intersection road plates have long since been discontinued and are hard to come by now. Cross-intersections are all that are available in LEGO stores now. You might choose to build a fourth light. I've supplied an alternate program that should drive a cross-intersection with four advance green-lights. It should work, but since I was testing the program only on my T-intersection, it might not work perfectly. You'll need more LEGO bricks and LEDs to build such a light.

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Step 1: Part list

Parts for this Instructable, a three light T-intersection with one advance green light

Electronic parts for this Instructable,

4-green LEDs, 20,000mcd
3-yellow LEDs, 20,000mcd
3-red LEDs, 20,000mcd
2-220& ¼-watt resistors
2-150Ω ¼-watt resistors
1-Arduino Nano micro-controller
1-5 pin male header
2-4 pin male headers
2-2x15 long female headers
1-2x6 long female header
1-50 foot spool Kynar #30AWG wire

LEGO parts:

36-2x2 round grey bricks
3-1x2 grey brick
3-1x2 modified grey technic brick with hole
12-1x1 round grey brick with holes in the stud
3-2x2 round grey tile
1-1x2 yellow plate
1-1x3 yellow plate
1-1x1 yellow tile
3-1x4 yellow tiles
2-1x4 yellow plates
13-yellow head light bricks
1-T-interesection road plate

Miscellaneous things needed to build this Instructable:

:#14AWG wire-stripper
#30-guage wire-stripper2-pliers
1-utility knife2-wires with alligator clips at each end for testing LEDs
1-hot glue gun
25 Watt soldering iron
fine rosin core solder
wire cutters/nippers
heat shrink tubing
heat shrink gun (or use heat from a soldering iron)

Parts for a cross-intersection with four advance-green lights
Should you choose to build the alternate model, this is my best guess at the parts that are required.

Electronic Parts:

8-green LEDs, 20,000mcd
4-yellow LEDs, 20,000mcd
4-red LEDs, 20,000mcd
2-220& ¼-watt resistors
2-150Ω ¼-watt resistors
1-Arduino Nano micro-controller
4-5 pin male headers
2-2x15 long female headers
2-2x6 long female header
1-50 foot spool Kynar #30AWG wire

LEGO parts:

48-2x2 round grey bricks
4-1x2 grey brick
4-1x2 modified grey technic brick with hole
16-1x1 round grey brick with holes in the stud
4-2x2 round grey tile
4-1x2 yellow plate
4-1x3 yellow plate
4-1x1 yellow tile
4-1x4 yellow tiles
13-yellow head light bricks
1-Cross-interesection road plate

Scott_Evoy says: Dec 30, 2012. 5:44 PM

We are REALLY enjoying this instructable!! We are having one issue. We can't get the yellow LEDs to run on the program. We have checked everything back to the Adruino board and everything works (all lights will light up when we check from the board to the LEDs). Would it be possible for you to check the code again to see if there is anything in there that might be keeping the yellow LEDs from working? It is all we can think of. Thanks!

Maloffstrano (author) says: Feb 10, 2011. 8:09 AM

Thank you all for the compliments.

I've just uploaded the cross-intersection code in step 25, for anyone considering building that type of intersection.

Scott_Evoy in reply to MaloffstranoDec 26, 2012. 9:41 AM

Hello, thanks for this awesome instructable. My son and I are trying to build the cross intersection. We are trying to understand the wiring to the micro-controller. I am trying to understand your wiring diagram. I don't have all the headers and would like to know what wires I could solder together prior to the micro controller. I have 2 2x16 female headers, 2 1x4 male headers and 2 1x5 male headers. thanks!

nolan5683 says: Apr 10, 2011. 1:29 PM

the dumpster was a great idea

pperegrina says: Apr 1, 2011. 8:07 AM

Hi..

It's possible do this, with an arduino Duemilanove?

Can i put the led's togeher with a wire?

Thanks,
Pedro Peregrina

crackHacker says: Feb 26, 2011. 11:16 PM

in my micro-controller class we had to make a 4 way intersection with the main traffic lights, turn lane lights and a push button for walking. if you felt froggy you could toss in the other 2 parts. ours was based off how Phoenix Az had their system back in the day it has since changed alot due to more roads and all that.

zack247 says: Feb 10, 2011. 9:40 PM

nice job!
one thing you could do to hide those wires on the back is take a 1x4 smooth piece like you have on the top and glue it on the back

Maloffstrano (author) in reply to zack247Feb 11, 2011. 8:26 AM

Great minds think alike! I was planning to do exactly that. I'm just currently out of yellow and grey tiles. It would be the only part of the build that is not authentic LEGO construction, but it would definitely finish it off.