RideWise | Devpost

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Inspiration

The inspiration for RideWise came from the daily frustration of waiting for school buses without knowing when they’d arrive. Millions of students rely on school buses, yet delays create a ripple effect impacting students, families, and school staff. My own experience of missing announcements and my younger brother’s confusion with route changes highlighted the need for a reliable solution. I wanted to build something that would reduce this stress for students, parents, and schools.

What it does

RideWise provides live, real-time tracking for school buses, enabling parents to view bus locations and know if their child is on board. This app addresses the common issues caused by delays by providing accurate, timely information, giving parents peace of mind and reducing last-minute schedule disruptions. Additionally, administrators benefit from tools like an AI route planner and metrics analysis, helping optimize school transportation efficiently.

How we built it

RideWise combines custom hardware and software. We designed a GPS and RFID-integrated hardware device that can be installed on buses, tracking bus locations and student boarding in real-time. Using the Google Maps API, we created a parent dashboard that updates dynamically to show live bus locations. To ensure smooth data transmission, we used the SIM800L module, solving initial issues with data lag by refining both hardware connections and our code implementation. Ultimately, we used the MERN tech, replacing expressJs w/ nextJs, and coded it through the localhost and free API tools (azure communications for email and SMS and googleMaps for mapping)

Challenges we ran into

One of the primary challenges was ensuring consistent real-time updates on the map, particularly due to data transmission lags. After troubleshooting, we found faulty soldering connections in the SIM800L module that disrupted data flow. Additionally, optimizing the Google Maps API was essential for efficient data refresh cycles, which required careful tuning to achieve real-time updates without unnecessary resource use.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud to have developed an app that provides a solution to a real and widespread problem. By creating a custom GPS hardware device that tracks both bus locations and student status, we’ve improved transparency and reliability in school transportation. We also implemented robust security measures, requiring short session tokens and administrative approvals to protect user privacy while delivering real-time data.

What we learned

This project reinforced the importance of integrating hardware with software in a way that guarantees a responsive, seamless experience for users. Collaborating with school officials and families underscored the need for precise, real-time data and a smooth user interface. We also learned that troubleshooting hardware requires persistence and attention to detail, especially when testing individual components to resolve technical issues.

What's next for RideWise

Our next step for RideWise is to develop tools specifically for bus drivers. Based on feedback from school transportation officials, we plan to add features like turn-by-turn directions tailored to bus routes, a digital checklist for inspections, and a system for quick communication with dispatch or other drivers. These improvements will support drivers, improve route reliability, and ultimately enhance the experience for students and parents by reducing delays and improving safety.