Vehicle Mileage Tracker

The goal of this project is to provide small business owners and self employed workers with a way to keep track of IRS mileage requirements with minimal interaction and no recurring subscription fees. The IRS gives taxpayers the option of a tax deductible for vehicle business mileage. Tax payers need to show “adequate” information regarding business mileage. Typically, a mileage log consists of odometer readings, dates, and destinations. Rather than use paper and pencil, electronic technology can keep track of this information automatically and deliver it to the user to help the user complete their yearly taxes. This project will be a hardware/firmware project involving the design and construction of a small unit containing data gathering components. The unit may be placed in a vehicle, store mileage and location information on a storage device, and communicate via Bluetooth for external configuration and adaptation (mileage adjustments, route identification, etc). Battery powered or wired to vehicle in some way. Good project involving vehicles, data collection, aiding people, and developing good teamwork skills.

Objectives

A small unit capable of recording location information (start and end GPS coordinates) and mileage of vehicle trips (miles of trip). Storable on a vehicle dashboard or under a hood. Ability to identify vehicle trips (starting and stopping). Able to collect and store vehicle trip information independent of a phone (local storage). Configurable via bluetooth. Ability to identify trips as business or other via bluetooth (business vs other). Present trip information neatly to taxpayer in a way they can easily transfer the information to their tax form (list of mileage and destinations with necessary summary information). 

Motivations

The IRS provides taxpayers 62.5 cents per mile in deductibles for business travel. Tracking mileage automatically for taxpayers can help taxpayers prepare their taxes. Many tracking solutions exist. Some focused toward tracking the vehicle itself (for keeping track of elderly and new drivers). Some focused toward tracking for large businesses. Many tracking devices require monthly subscription (cellular data fees, fees for tracking software and storage of tracked routes). For the self employed or small business owner, many of these subscription and tracking features are unnecessary. A product can be made to track mileage information required by the IRS that performs simple tracking without requiring recurring payments. Ideal for small business owners and self employed workers.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Experience with microcontrollers
  • Experience with a communication protocol (SPI, UART, or I2C)

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with Bluetooth LE
  • Experience with tax mileage deductibles (will help understanding project goal)
  • Experience with SD cards
  • Experience with GPS


Details

Project Partner:

Stephen Covrig

NDA/IPA:

No Agreement Required

Number Groups:

1

Project Status:

Accepting Applicants

Website:
Similar Products: https://triplogmileage.com/triplog-drive-gps-mileage-tracker-logger/ https://www.gpslinxup.com/index.html https://family1st.io/products/portable-small-gps-tracker/
Keywords:
MicrocontrollerGPSSD CardBluetooth LEData Logging
Card Image Capstone