Reflecting on 2023 Hack OHI/O 11

Navigating the Future: A Labyrinth of Ideas, a Maze of Possibilities

This past Halloween weekend, an occasion often marked by tricks, treats, and costumes, I had the pleasure of diving into a different kind of adventure: Hack OHI/O 11, the annual hackathon at The Ohio State University. While I initially wondered if the timing might affect attendance, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was there a great turnout, but our challenge also received a staggering 35 submissions — each one a unique approach to making indoor navigation more intuitive, personalized, and accessible.

At 99P Labs, we’re not just about pushing the envelope; we’re about redefining it. We posed a complex challenge to these up-and-coming talents, offering them a platform to demonstrate their innovative problem-solving skills. What unfolded was a whirlpool of creativity and technical prowess, all aimed at addressing the conundrums of navigating complex indoor spaces.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through the multifaceted landscape of indoor navigation, introduce you to the winning projects that stood out, and reflect on the profound impact this event has had in reimagining what’s possible in this domain.

Unpacking the Challenge: Why Traditional Methods Fall Short

In this section, we’ll delve into the inherent limitations of traditional indoor navigation tools, breaking down why they often fail to meet the needs of users in complex indoor environments.

Traditional methods for indoor navigation like static maps and signs have glaring limitations. First, they’re not personalized. Everyone has to rely on the same generic information, which may or may not suit individual needs. Second, they’re not adaptive. If a hallway is closed for maintenance, a static map won’t update in real-time to show you an alternate route. Third, they often ignore accessibility considerations, making it difficult for people with disabilities to navigate these spaces.

Having established the limitations of existing solutions, we set the stage for innovation at Hack OHI/O. The challenge was clear: overcome these hurdles to create indoor navigation solutions that are intuitive, personalized, and accessible for everyone.

Up next, we’ll take a closer look at the projects that tackled our indoor navigation challenge. What’s truly remarkable is the level of innovation and thoughtfulness these students brought to the table, all within the tight timeframe of just 24 hours. These projects offer fresh, encouraging approaches to making indoor navigation more user-friendly and inclusive.

The Podium Finishers: Three Projects That Led the Way

In this section, we’re turning our attention to the three exceptional projects that earned top honors in our indoor navigation challenge at Hack OHI/O 11. While we received an impressive 35 entries, each bringing a unique perspective to this complex issue, for the scope of this blog, we will focus on the projects that stood out the most. Created within the constraints of just a 24-hour timeframe, these teams not only tackled the challenge but also delivered thoughtful and promising solutions. Now, let’s dive deeper into what makes each of these winning projects noteworthy and how they aim to improve the way we navigate indoor spaces.

Accessible Indoor Mapping System

Hack OHI/O 2023 showcased many innovative projects, but one team caught special attention in the Honda challenge: AIMERS. Their project, the “Accessible Indoor Mapping System,” focused on making indoor navigation easier for everyone. Congratulations to Team AIMERS for their notable work.

AIMERS developed an “Accessible Indoor Mapping System” to help a diverse set of users navigate indoor spaces. The system starts with a 3D floor plan, usually generated using the Magic Plan app. This plan is converted into a PDF that serves as one input to the program. The other inputs are the user’s current location and desired destination. The program turns the PDF into an ASCII text format to simplify pathfinding. Finally, instructions are both displayed and read out loud, catering to various user needs.

What distinguishes AIMERS’ project is its broad approach to accessibility. The ASCII conversion technique allows the algorithm to more easily determine the best path. The text-to-speech feature further extends the system’s reach, making it usable for those who may have difficulty reading text. Most importantly, the system adapts to the user’s specific conditions, such as being in a wheelchair, to provide a custom navigation solution.

IndoorQuest

The next standout project was one from team frambes, who secured the second-place spot in the Honda challenge. Their project, titled “IndoorQuest,” aimed to revolutionize the way we navigate indoor spaces like malls and airports. Well done to team frambes for their impressive efforts.

Frambes developed “IndoorQuest” to improve indoor navigation, an area often fraught with outdated or hard-to-access information. Their app takes a unique approach by crowdsourcing floor plans. As users walk through a building, their path gets recorded and added to a dynamic map. Over time, as more users contribute, a comprehensive floor plan emerges. Businesses can add their locations, and users can even update the map with features like restrooms and water fountains. Additional features include real-time heat maps to avoid crowded areas and personalized ETA adjustments based on past walking speeds. The tech stack includes a front and back end, an Arduino for real-time navigation, and a machine learning model for natural language processing.

Frambes’ approach to solving the indoor navigation problem is noteworthy for several reasons. First, the crowdsourcing element is a clever solution to keeping maps up to date without putting the burden on building owners. Second, the use of an Arduino with an accelerometer and gyroscope for real-time navigation is an inventive touch. Lastly, the machine learning component for natural language processing adds a layer of sophistication, allowing for more natural user interaction. Overall, the project makes a strong case for how community-driven and tech-savvy solutions can address real-world challenges.

Hue It Is

And last but certainly not least we’d like to extend our congratulations to team Flyers for securing the third-place spot with their innovative project “Hue It Is.” Faced with the challenge of enhancing indoor navigation within a 24-hour window, this team delivered a solution that is both clever and practical.

“Hue It Is” tackles the challenge of navigating through immense indoor spaces, like the MGM Grand Las Vegas, which has an astonishing 5,124 rooms. Realizing the limitations of traditional tools like static maps and arrows, the team opted for a color-coded navigation system. They crafted a web application that uses computer vision to identify markers made of distinct colors and geometric shapes. Once recognized, these markers guide users through indoor spaces, from universities to airports, streamlining the navigation experience.

What sets “Hue It Is” apart is its focus on immediate and intuitive guidance. By employing computer vision technology, the system quickly identifies color and shape markers, offering users real-time directions. The approach minimizes the need for intricate maps or databases, making the system straightforward to use. Additionally, the team leveraged OpenCV and edge detection technology to make their application technologically robust. They also outlined avenues for future development, like enhanced landmark recognition, showing that their project not only addresses current challenges but also has the potential for future enhancements.

As we wrap up our spotlight on the winning projects, it’s evident that each entry brought its own unique approach to the challenge of indoor navigation. From intuitive color-coded systems to dynamic real-time updates and accessibility features, these projects demonstrate the diverse ways in which technology can make our everyday experiences more seamless. Now, let’s turn to some final reflections on the event as we contemplate what the future may hold in this intriguing domain.

Conclusion

As we conclude our journey through Hack OHI/O 11, we want to extend our deepest appreciation to all the teams who submitted entries to our challenge. The creativity and ingenuity displayed were nothing short of inspiring. We also want to express our gratitude to the organizers of OHI/O for orchestrating such a well-run and impactful event.

We’re thrilled at the prospect of returning next year to see what new innovations and collaborations unfold. It’s events like these that drive progress and inspire us all to think bigger and aim higher.

Thank you so much for reading. If you’re interested in collaborating on a project or just want to connect with 99P Labs, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can follow our 99P Labs blog here on Medium, connect with us on our LinkedIn page, leave a comment, or contact us directly at research@99plabs.com.

That concludes our look back at a memorable Hack OHI/O 11. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.