SkiTrax: Dual-Device Outdoor Tracking System

Designed and developed SkiTrax, a dual-device wearable tracking system that enables skiers to locate friends on a mountain without relying on cellular connectivity. The project addresses challenges specific to outdoor winter environments, including intermittent reception, variable terrain, cold temperatures, and the need for low-power operation.

Each device integrates a GPS module, inertial measurement unit (IMU), altitude sensor, and a low-power LoRa communication system built around a Heltec ESP32 module. The devices exchange location and orientation data in real time, allowing each unit to compute relative distance and bearing to its paired device. Firmware was developed to manage sensor acquisition, packetized wireless communication, and on-device computation under strict power and latency constraints.

Significant emphasis was placed on systems integration and reliability. Sensor data was filtered and synchronized to produce stable directional outputs despite motion and terrain variability. Power management strategies were implemented to balance update rate, communication range, and battery life in cold conditions. A display interface was designed to present an intuitive directional indicator, enabling users to quickly identify the direction of their partner without needing map-based navigation.

The project involved end-to-end development, including hardware architecture selection, embedded firmware design, communication protocol implementation, and user interface development. SkiTrax demonstrates a complete embedded systems workflow, from concept through functional prototype, for a real-world use case where robustness, usability, and reliability are critical.