I. Abstract

 

            We at Freshman's Friend Inc. realize the vast extents of the University of Washington campus.  This causes numerous problems ranging from lost delivery drivers to crowds of freshmen huddled around campus maps.  Our product, the Freshman's Friend, solves these problems by integrating Global Positioning System (GPS) technology into a handheld computing device.  Using this technology our customers can view their exact location and ask for directions to any building on campus.

           

The Freshman's Friend is based upon three major components: the Compaq iPaq handheld computing device, the Garmin GPS25-LVS GPS receiver, and a digital compass.  We integrate these devices using an 8051 microcontroller and the communication ports on the iPaq.  Linked together with proprietary mapping software on the iPaq the Freshman's Friend opens the door to a whole new world for collegiate freshmen all over America.

 

II. Problem Description

 

            Every year millions of students begin their college career.  Freshman college students are constantly embarrassed for asking directions and stressed out for not knowing their way around campus.  In addition to feeling outcast at times, getting lost on campus can deter students from their studies.  Showing up late to class or missing class entirely can set a new student far behind. 

 

Campus maps are not very helpful for students to obtain their bearings.  The maps make it difficult for someone to find out which direction they are facing, or their current location.  It is also difficult to find a destination on the map and the best way to get there.  Freshmen have enough on their minds when they arrive at a new university.  Finding the way around campus should not make things more difficult for them.

 

 

III. Benefit of Design

 

            We hope that the Freshman’s Friend will help all students find their way around an unfamiliar campus.  It will do so by giving the students their current location relative to the rest of the campus.  It will also let the students know which direction they are facing and which direction they need to go in order to get to their destination.  Additionally, the Freshman’s Friend will automatically update the students’ locations and keep them informed of the best way to get to their destination, even if they go off the original course.

 

            In addition to helping freshman new to the university, the Freshman’s Friend could be used by many other people.  Universities could check the equipment out to prospective students, visitors, and delivery services unfamiliar to the campus.  Supplying the Freshman’s Friend would help guests navigate their way around campus like never before.

 

 

IV. Implementation

 

A. Overview

 

In order to implement the Freshman’s Friend, we are going to use a Compaq iPaq to provide us with the PDA interface.  We will develop all of the necessary mapping software for the iPaq.  The user of the Freshman’s Friend will only interface directly with the iPaq software application.  We will integrate into the iPaq application the ability to communicate via both the serial and infrared ports.

 

B. GPS

 

For our GPS readings, we will be using the GPS25-LVS receiver manufactured by Garmin. We are going to connect the serial port on the iPaq directly to the serial connection present on the GPS receiver.  By doing so, our software application can talk back and forth with the GPS receiver in order to generate the necessary GPS readings.

 

C. Digital Compass

 

            The GPS receiver provides us with the necessary positioning information so that we can create a map to the desired location.  However, the GPS receiver is unable to provide direction and heading information.  In order to obtain this information, we will need a digital compass.  To interface the digital compass with the iPaq, we will have to use the output of the digital compass as an input to an 8051 microcontroller.  From the microcontroller, we will send an infrared signal of the current heading to the iPaq.  This way, the iPaq can provide directional information to the user.

 

D. Software

 

            The software is probably going to be one of the most complicated aspects of this project.  We will have to come up with some intelligent mapping scheme that provides both zooming and scrolling features.  In addition to this, we will have to implement both the serial and infrared communication simultaneously from within the application since all data will be transmitted asynchronously.  Additionally, we will need to develop some sort of distance algorithm to find the shortest path to the destination.  We will probably do this by separating the map of campus up into different zones and then the best path can be computed between zones.

 

 

 

 

V. Design Issues

 

A. GPS

 

            The connection between the GPS receiver and the iPaq is going to be over a serial port.  In order to successfully transfer information to and from the receiver, we are going to need to learn the interface protocol used by the receiver.  The GPS receiver uses the National Marine Electronics Association’s NMEA 0183 ASCII interface specification.  We will have to research this protocol and determine the exact specifics of it in order to successfully transfer data between the iPaq and the receiver.  Additionally, we will have to learn how to transfer data over the serial port in the iPaq from a software application perspective.

 

B. Digital Compass

 

            The connection between the digital compass and the iPaq is going to be made through a microcontroller.  The processing of data in the microcontroller should be relatively simple given the simple digital compass interface.  However, to transfer data from the microcontroller to the iPaq, we will be using infrared data transmission.  Nobody in the group has experience with infrared communications, so we will have to do some research as to how we will make the infrared transmission work.  Additionally, we will have to learn the software application interface to the infrared port in the iPaq.

 

C. Software

 

            We do not have prior experience in developing for the iPaq in Windows CE, so we will have to do some research as to how application development proceeds in the iPaq.  Once a general software interface has been determined in the iPaq, we must learn how to display images from within an application so that we can display the campus map to the user.  We will have to research what types of images can be displayed in the iPaq as well since high-resolution graphics are probably not supported.  Lastly, we will have to determine the software interfaces to the serial and infrared ports in order to transfer data to and from our hardware devices.

 

D. Physical Structure

 

            Once all of the hardware and software solutions have been developed, we will have to come up with some sort of portable storage unit that the digital compass, microcontroller, and GPS receiver will be stored in.  Since the GPS receiver will be connected via the serial port, we will probably mount the iPaq onto some casing that contains the GPS receiver since the iPaq must be physically connected to the GPS receiver.  We may need some electromagnetic shielding surrounding the GPS receiver to prevent interference from the iPaq.  The digital compass and microcontroller do not need to be physically connected to the iPaq since they will be transmitting data over the infrared port.  Thus, we will need to find some separate casing for the compass and microcontroller to protect them.

 

 

VI. Costs

 

            In order to implement the Freshman’s Friend, we will need all of the parts as shown in Table 1.  Parts whose cost is “N/A” were already available in the computer lab.

The evaluation kit is necessary in order to provide an antenna to the GPS receiver and the connector cable to connect the receiver to the iPaq.  The only parts that we had to purchase were the GPS receiver parts.  Those parts are on order and should be delivered within one week.

 

 

Table 1. Parts list with item cost.

 

VII. Division of Labor

 

            Although we will be working together fairly closely and helping each other out, we will each be primarily focused on certain aspects of the project.  Mark Christiansen will be working on interfacing the digital compass to the iPaq’s infrared receiver via a microcontroller.  Brian Lenz will be working on the connection between the GPS receiver and the iPaq’s serial port. Adam Prewett will be mainly concerned with the software on the iPaq.

 

 

VIII. Summary

 

Far too often do we hear complaints about the size of the University of Washington.  Now, with the help of 21^st century technology, we can offer students a service to make its size a little more manageable.  Recognizing all of the design challenges outlined above we believe this can become a reality in 10 weeks.

The scope of the Freshman’s Friend, however, is not necessarily limited to service on collegiate campuses.  With proper map conversion, the Freshman’s Friend could be employed in metropolitan and tourist areas.  With the ever-increasing power of Personal Digital Assistants, who knows what the Freshman’s Friend 2020 could be?