Examples described herein provide a method for direction control of a motor of a gate crossing mechanism. The method includes providing, by a field-effect transducer (FET) driver, a first voltage via a high output to a normally open contact of a first relay and to a normally closed contact of a second relay. The first voltage causes a shaft of the motor to turn in a first direction. The method further includes providing, by the FET driver, a second voltage via a low output to a normally closed contact of the first relay and to a normally open contact of the second relay. The second voltage causes the shaft of the motor to turn in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Examples described herein provide a method for direction control of a motor of a gate crossing mechanism. The method includes providing, by a field-effect transducer (FET) driver, a first voltage via a high output to a normally open contact of a first relay and to a normally closed contact of a second relay. The first voltage causes a shaft of the motor to turn in a first direction. The method further includes providing, by the FET driver, a second voltage via a low output to a normally closed contact of the first relay and to a normally open contact of the second relay. The second voltage causes the shaft of the motor to turn in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A highway grade crossing gate system comprises a gate arm configured to rotate 90 degrees from a horizontal position to a vertical position and vice versa and a highway grade crossing gate mechanism coupled to the gate arm for controlling rotation of the gate arm without mechanical user adjustments but rather use user angle and time inputs/outputs. The highway grade crossing gate mechanism includes a DC motor to drive the gate arm up and down and a voltage reduction circuit to receive an input voltage from a battery and reduce the input voltage. The highway grade crossing gate mechanism further includes a human machine interface (HMI) to receive a plurality of programmable set points as operational variables for operation of the gate arm without manually adjustable cams on a main shaft that move contacts to open or close at some preset angular rotation. The highway grade crossing gate mechanism further includes a control printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to the HMI, the voltage reduction circuit, the brake, and the DC motor. The control PCB to receive an output based on an angular position of the gate arm as a position indication to have the control PCB provide an output for the operation of the gate arm.

A crossing gate mechanism includes an electric brushless direct current (BLDC) motor with a sensing device, a crossing gate arm operated via the BLDC motor, a motor brake coupled to the BLDC motor, wherein the motor brake is configured to hold the crossing gate arm in a position, and a controller configured to control the BLDC motor, wherein the controller is configured to control the BLDC motor to raise or lower the crossing gate arm in response to a gate control signal, and wherein, when the motor brake fails to hold the crossing gate arm in the position, the controller is configured to control the BLDC motor to hold the crossing gate arm in the position instead of the motor brake.

A crossing gate mechanism includes an electric brushless direct current (BLDC) motor with a sensing device, a crossing gate arm operated via the BLDC motor, a motor brake coupled to the BLDC motor, wherein the motor brake is configured to hold the crossing gate arm in a position, and a controller configured to control the BLDC motor, wherein the controller is configured to control the BLDC motor to raise or lower the crossing gate arm in response to a gate control signal, and wherein, when the motor brake fails to hold the crossing gate arm in the position, the controller is configured to control the BLDC motor to hold the crossing gate arm in the position instead of the motor brake.

A highway grade crossing gate system comprises a gate arm configured to rotate 90 degrees from a horizontal position to a vertical position and vice versa and a highway grade crossing gate mechanism coupled to the gate arm for controlling rotation of the gate arm without mechanical user adjustments but rather use user angle and time inputs/outputs. The highway grade crossing gate mechanism includes a DC motor to drive the gate arm up and down and a voltage reduction circuit to receive an input voltage from a battery and reduce the input voltage. The highway grade crossing gate mechanism further includes a human machine interface (HMI) to receive a plurality of programmable set points as operational variables for operation of the gate arm without manually adjustable cams on a main shaft that move contacts to open or close at some preset angular rotation. The highway grade crossing gate mechanism further includes a control printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to the HMI, the voltage reduction circuit, the brake, and the DC motor. The control PCB to receive an output based on an angular position of the gate arm as a position indication to have the control PCB provide an output for the operation of the gate arm.

A crossing gate mechanism includes an enclosure housing multiple components including a control unit configured to operate the crossing gate mechanism and associated crossing gate arm, an electric motor driving a main shaft, the main shaft extending outside the enclosure and the crossing gate arm being coupled to the main shaft, one or more electronic sensor(s) capable of providing angular information, and a processing unit configured to determine positions based on the angular information.

A crossing gate mechanism includes an enclosure housing multiple components including a control unit configured to operate the crossing gate mechanism and associated crossing gate arm, an electric motor driving a main shaft, the main shaft extending outside the enclosure and the crossing gate arm being coupled to the main shaft, one or more electronic sensor(s) capable of providing angular information, and a processing unit configured to determine positions based on the angular information.

A communication system may wirelessly receive. A crossing controller may check the message to determine whether the message is a valid vital communication. In response to determining the message is the valid vital communication, the crossing controller may deactivate at least one crossing traffic control element. While the at least one crossing traffic control element is deactivated, the crossing controller may activate the at least one crossing traffic control element in response to receiving a command to activate the at least one crossing traffic control element at the communication system. In response to determining the message is not the valid vital communication, the crossing controller may activate the at least one crossing traffic control element.

An automated counterbalance system includes a crossing gate mechanism with an electric motor, a sensing device and a motor control unit, a crossing gate with a crossing gate arm and one or more counterweights, wherein the crossing gate arm is operated by the crossing gate mechanism, wherein the at least one sensing device is configured to monitor an electrical characteristic of the electric motor, and wherein the motor control unit comprises at least one processor and is configured to determine a counterbalance of the crossing gate based on the electrical characteristic of the electric motor and a movement of the crossing gate arm.