TerpTrails: A Bluetooth Navigation and Exploration App

Team Description

The overall goal of this project is to create a location-based tool for students, faculty, staff and visitors to inform them of general information and events happening around them in real time. For example, a prospective student visiting campus can take an App guided tour based upon the major(s) they are interested in, visiting the facilities and learning about all the major has to offer. Based upon App-collected data, including where they visited and how long they spent at each location, a follow-up email can introduce them to staff that can answer questions.  Further follow-up emails would remind them of application deadlines and the availability of scholarships. Another example would be letting a student passing a building know that there is currently free pizza at an event inside.


Current project goals include developing the prototype App, exploring the potential of sensor technologies, designing data collection processes, developing additional use cases, and setting up and conducting field tests.  Students will be encouraged to develop ideas for future use cases, using data to predict and suggest events/locations users have previously visited.  This will include the opportunity for students to lead development of future features based on use cases  


Topics include:

- Coding/App Development

- introduction of augmented reality

- machine learning

- Indoor wayfinding

- Sensors

- Internet of Things

Methods & Technologies 

Machine Learning, Bluetooth Communications, Indoor Wayfinding, App Development


Academic Majors of Interest 


Preferred Interests & Preparation 

Experience with programming languages such as Java and Kotlin


Meeting Schedule & Location 

Wednesdays 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

1318 AV Williams 

*Team members will be expected to attend a weekly lab meeting. Date, time, and location for lab meetings will be determined during the first class session*


Faculty Mentor(s)

Bryan Quinn (he/him) 

bquinn@umd.edu 

Electrical and Computer Engineering 

Dmitry Akmal

dakmal@umd.edu 

Yanne Chembo

ykchembo@umd.edu