What Diablo Controls does

Diablo Controls is a US-based manufacturer of electronic access, traffic, and parking control devices and systems, founded circa 1984 and operating as a subsidiary of Polara Enterprises, LLC. The company's product portfolio centers on inductive loop and magnetometer-based vehicle detection technology, organized into four categories: access controls, traffic controls, parking controls, and Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI). Core technology includes the proprietary Mini-Loop (Probe) system protected by US Patent 7,132,959, which uses a small magnetometer sensor buried beneath roadway surfaces to eliminate concerns about loop size, lead-in length, and cross-talk. The DSP detector series (DSP-6 through DSP-262), XLP-8 extreme low-power detector, and DML-9LP mini-loop detectors form the foundation of the hardware offering, supported by AVI-X transmitters, AVI-222/40 receivers, card racks, directional logic devices (DLD-2), and supporting accessories. Products are designed to be CalTrans and NEMA compliant, with specific models qualified for state and municipal traffic applications.

Diablo Controls serves integrators, municipalities, and end customers across traffic management, parking facility operations, gated access control, and fleet/transit (emergency vehicles, mass transit, airport access, rail). Revenue is generated through unit-priced hardware sales via two channels: a direct e-commerce storefront on the company's website and an extensive global distributor network spanning at least 10 countries including the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, India, Jamaica, Barbados, and Chile. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; traffic inquiries are handled by an internal sales team while access and parking inquiries are routed to distributors. The company positions itself on decades of industry-first innovation (first microcontrollers in traffic/parking, microprocessor NEMA controller, LCD traffic controller), largest installed base of inductive loop and mini-vehicle detectors globally, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The company is lean (1-10 employees per firmographic data), privately held with no institutional investment or public financial disclosure.

Name

Diablo Controls

Legal name

Diablo Controls

Website

https://diablocontrols.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Diablo Controls is a US manufacturer of electronic access, traffic, and parking control devices, including inductive loop vehicle detectors, magnetometer Mini-Loop probes, and AVI systems, serving municipalities, integrators, and fleet operators via direct sales and a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vehicle Detection and Identification Hardware

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive/Garage & Gate Access Control (Smart Garage Door, Driveway Gates) (HSAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Vehicle detection devices
• Access control systems
• Parking control equipment
• Traffic control detectors
• Automatic vehicle identification

Headquarters

HQ city

Crystal Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: Diablo Controls generates revenue through the sale of electronic vehicle detection devices and systems including vehicle detectors (DSP series, XLP series), AVI receivers and transmitters, card racks, and accessory products. Products are sold directly through their online store and through a global distributor network. The company is a subsidiary of Polara Enterprises, LLC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Diablo Controls designs and manufactures electronic vehicle detection and identification hardware used in access control (gates, doors, premises security), traffic management (intersections, arterials, CalTrans/NEMA-compliant applications), and parking control (garages, lots, counting). The product portfolio centers on inductive loop and patented Mini-Loop magnetometer-based vehicle detectors (DSP, XLP, DML series), Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) transmitters and receivers operating at 375 kHz, directional logic devices, and card rack accessories.

Product overview

Diablo Controls is a manufacturer of electronic access, traffic, and parking control devices and systems with over 40 years of experience. The product portfolio consists of four main categories: Access Controls (transmitters, receivers, card racks, detectors), Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems (transmitters, receivers, code readers, security devices), Traffic Controls (vehicle detectors), and Parking Controls. The core products are vehicle detection devices including the DSP Series (DSP-6 through DSP-262), XLP-8 extreme low power detector, and DML-9LP mini-loop detectors. AVI products include the AVI-X transmitter series and AVI-40/AVI-222 receivers. Accessory products include DLD-2 directional logic devices and RK card racks. The products are designed for applications including gate control, door access, traffic management, and parking systems, with many models supporting both standard inductive loops and proprietary mini-loop probe technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DSP-21 Series Directional Logic Counting Detector An all-in-one vehicle detector for the parking industry using a dual inductive loop configuration with two-channel directional counting mode and sophisticated plug-n-play algorithms that automatically discover loop configuration and adjust for loop size differences and sensitivity variations.
• DSP-222 2 Channel Vehicle Detector A traffic-specific vehicle detector designed for NEMA and CalTrans applications with automatic frequency tuning and noise filtering algorithms, operating on in-ground inductive loops from 50 to 750 microhenries.
• DSP-14 3 Axis Vehicle Detector An accurate and easy-to-install detection system comprising a master unit and 3-axis magnetometer sensor that eliminates orientation concerns during installation and can hold vehicle detection indefinitely even through power outages.
• DSP-19 Low Power Loop and Mini-Loop Vehicle Detector A low power vehicle detector designed for solar powered applications and LiftMaster operators, featuring 10 selectable sensitivity settings and flexible fail-safe/fail-secure operation with open-drain FET output.
• DSP-20 Dual Channel Vehicle Detector A dual channel vehicle detector with built-in directional logic controls using advanced channel scanning technology for superior noise tolerance, allowing loops to be placed closer together than with single channel detectors.
• DSP-10 Series Vehicle Detector An all-in-one vehicle detector for parking, drive-through, and access control industries designed to retrofit existing locations with sophisticated noise filtering algorithms for stable operation.
• DSP-11 Series Vehicle Detector A micro-sized switchless single output vehicle detector with automatic sensitivity adjustment for different loop sizes, covered by US Patent 7,132,959 for non-interfering vehicle detection.
• DSP-15 Series Vehicle Detector A PCB version of the DSP-10 designed for parking, drive-through and access control applications with HYPERTRACK software for environmental compensation and noise filtering.
• DSP-22-1 Vehicle Detector A low power direct replacement for DoorKing Model 9410 single channel inductive loop vehicle detectors with advanced channel scanning technology and superior noise tolerance.
• DSP-22-2 Vehicle Detector A dual channel vehicle detector designed as a direct replacement for DoorKing Model 9409 and 9405 detectors, using advanced channel scanning technology that allows loops to be placed closer together.
• DSP-40S Plug-In Vehicle Detector A plug-in vehicle detector with 4 levels of sensitivity designed for parking, drive-through and access control applications with solid-state outputs for detect and fail functions.
• DSP-55 Plug-In Vehicle Detector A full-featured single channel detector with small footprint that works with both inductive loops and mini-loops, using a high-performance 8-bit microcontroller with three solid-state outputs.
• DSP-6LP Low Power Vehicle Detector An ultra low power vehicle detector designed for solar powered gate applications with automatic sensitivity adjustment and fail-secure operation for free exit loops.
• DSP-7 Vehicle Detector A micro-sized vehicle detector with automatic sensitivity adjustment for different loop sizes, covered by US Patent 7,132,959 for non-interfering vehicle detection.
• DSP-7LP Low Power Vehicle Detector A low power vehicle detector designed for solar powered gate applications with fail-safe operation for safety loops, drawing approximately 1 milliamp with no vehicle on the loop.
• DSP-100 Vehicle Detector A traffic vehicle detector designed for most traffic applications with high noise and cross-talk tolerance, available in relay or solid-state output models with automatic tuning and environmental tracking.
• DSP-262 Series Dual Channel Vehicle Detector A dual channel traffic vehicle detector with automatic frequency tuning and noise filtering, featuring programmable delay and extension timing with seven sensitivity settings.
• XLP-8 Extreme Low Power Vehicle Detector An extremely low current draw vehicle detector (less than 1 milliamp) designed for solar and battery backed-up applications, capable of using an inductive loop or magnetometer sensor probe.
• DML-9LP Low Power Free Exit Probe Vehicle Detector A low powered free exit probe vehicle detector using magnetometer Mini-Loop technology over standard inductive loops, covered by US Patent 7,132,959 with automatic compensation for loop and lead-in sizes.
• DML-9LP Mini-Loop Kits Mini-loop kits for use with DML-9LP detectors, designed to be buried beneath roadway surfaces in a vertical position, available in 75-foot and 100-foot lengths.
• AVI-CR Automatic Vehicle Identification Code Reader A handheld AVI code reader with extendable sensing wand used to verify operation of AVI transmitters, capable of receiving up to four codes from a single transmitter with audible buzzer feedback.
• AVI-SD Security Device A security device that communicates with AVI-X transmitters during power-up using a coded handshake to prevent stolen transmitters from operating, with unique identification pairing.
• AVI-X-1 AVI Transmitter (Single Code) A single-code AVI transmitter potted in thermal epoxy compound for mounting on vehicle undercarriages, transmitting up to 19,683 different codes using Motorola trinary format at 375 kHz.
• AVI-X-2 AVI Transmitter (Dual Code) A dual-code AVI transmitter capable of transmitting primary code continuously unless a dashboard switch is pressed to transmit secondary code, with over 19,000 codes available.
• AVI-222 Receiver A two-channel card-rack AVI receiver that detects and identifies vehicles equipped with Diablo Controls AVI transmitters, utilizing LADOT2070 Loop Comm protocol and supporting up to 32 receiver channels on a single serial link.
• AVI-40 AVI Receiver An AVI receiver programmable to accept up to 4 different codes with a learn pushbutton for field programming, operating on 8 to 35 volts DC with solid-state outputs.
• DLD-2 Directional Logic Device A directional logic device that determines vehicle direction using two detectors connected to two loops by measuring inputs and determining direction of vehicle movement without switches or buttons.
• RK-1R Card Rack A single position card rack designed to accept one plug-in vehicle detector with terminal block for wire connections.
• RK-3R Card Rack A three position card rack designed to accept up to three plug-in vehicle detectors with terminal blocks for wire connections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products on State of California (Cal-Trans) QPL list for traffic applications
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Polara Enterprises, LLCparentOthersPolara Enterprises, LLC is the parent company of Diablo Controls. Diablo Controls operates as a subsidiary/brand within the Polara family of companies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Kapsch TrafficCom: Large incumbent providing end-to-end intelligent transportation systems including tolling, traffic management, and connected vehicle infrastructure. Overlaps Diablo's detection business as part of broader multimodal ITS portfolios, particularly in DOT contracts.
• SWARCO: Established European-headquartered traffic technology company offering detection, signage, and V2X solutions. Overlaps Diablo in the vehicle detection category but at significantly greater scale and broader geographic reach.
• Cubic Transportation Systems: Large incumbent delivering urban mobility, traffic, and transit payment solutions. Overlaps Diablo at the system-integration layer where vehicle detection feeds into broader traffic management platforms for municipalities and DOTs.
• Siemens Mobility: Major incumbent with traffic management, intersection control, and vehicle detection offerings. Competes indirectly with Diablo in large DOT and municipal bids where Siemens bundles detection into broader traffic and transit solutions.

Direct peers

• Sensys Networks: Direct peer providing wireless in-pavement vehicle detection (FlexMag) for traffic and parking applications. Competes with Diablo's inductive loop and Mini-Loop detectors on the same retrofit and new-install opportunities.
• Reno A&E: Direct peer manufacturing inductive loop vehicle detectors for the traffic and access control industries. Competes head-to-head with Diablo's DSP and DML product families serving the same municipal, parking, and gate operator customers.
• Wavetronix: Direct peer in vehicle detection for traffic management, offering radar-based SmartSensor products. Competes for the same DOT and integrator RFPs as Diablo but with a non-loop technology platform.
• Image Sensing Systems: Direct peer offering Autoscope video vehicle detection and RTMS radar detection. Competes directly with Diablo's inductive-loop portfolio in the traffic detection segment where agencies are migrating from loops to video/radar.
• Eberle Design Inc. (EDI): Sibling brand under Polara Enterprises manufacturing traffic safety monitors (conflict monitors), load switches, and detection-related cabinets. Closely comparable to Diablo by virtue of shared ownership, customer base (DOTs/municipalities), and traffic-control industry focus.
• Iteris: Direct peer in vehicle detection and traffic management, with the Autoscope video-detection product line plus broader ITS software. Competes for the same intersection and arterial detection budgets and represents a key technology substitute to Diablo's inductive products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DiabloControlsInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diablo-controls-inc-/about
• Xx.com/diablo_controls

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Diablo Controls