Waymap's vision is to develop the world's most accurate and inclusive personal navigation smart phone application (app). Rather than simply routing a user to a train station, imagine if an app could then route them through the building, underground to the correct platform, on and off the train, and all the way to the end destination. These are the truly end-to-end journeys that Waymap can make a reality. No other personal navigation app on the market (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Citymapper, Okeenea etc.) has adequately addressed the great indoors, which represents a major commercial opportunity. Waymap was born out of requirements identified by the Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC). Through several focus groups, the RSBC identified independent city navigation as a key issue for visually impaired children and tasked Waymap to develop a high-tech solution that would allow them to navigate cities as if they had no disability. As a result, Waymap has developed world-leading core technology and a smart phone app that locates and navigates users to an accuracy of up to 1m and 10 degrees heading. In 2021, Waymap extended the functionality of its core location algorithm, known as "Trace", to ensure the app operates effectively while the smart phone is carried in all the manners that a usual commuter would carry their cell phone in, for example in their pocket, whilst texting, or in a bag. All of this is done with no physical infrastructure and no external signal required, meaning that the navigation app can work indoors, outdoors, underground, and when the smart phone is in flight mode. Waymap's unprecedented level of accuracy and ability to be used anywhere makes it a truly unique and game-changing proposition. The Innovation Loan project will enable Waymap to finalise the development and validation of a minimum viable product and test it in 3 real-world trials in the UK (Network Rail), Spain (Arriva Madrid), and the US (Washington D.C. Metro). Successful demonstration of the proprietary technology will pave the way for market deployment within 12 months of project closure.

Waymap's vision is to develop the world's most accurate and inclusive personal navigation cell phone app. Waymap was born out of requirements identified by the Royal Society for Blind Children. Through several focus groups, this London-based charity identified independent city navigation as a key issue for visually impaired children and tasked Waymap to develop a high-tech solution that would allow them to navigate cities as if they had no disability. As a result of this Waymap has developed world-leading core technology and a cell phone app that locates and navigates users to an accuracy of up to 1m and 10 degrees heading. All of this is done with no physical infrastructure and no external signal required, meaning that the navigation app can work both indoors and outdoors. This is what makes Waymap's proposition truly innovative -- no other personal navigation app on the market has adequately addressed the great indoors, which represents a major opportunity for personal navigation. Rather than a navigation app routing you just to a train station, imagine that it routed you through the building, underground to your platform, on to your train, off your train and all the way to your destination. These are the truly end-to-end journeys that Waymap believe we can make a reality. The funding provided by Innovate UK will allow us to extend the functionality of our core location algorithm, known as TRACE, to ensure that it operates effectively while the cell phone is carried in all the manners that a usual commuter would carry their cell phone in. In addition, this funding will allow Waymap to develop our app to a level whereby the features included in the app are fit for market use and equivalent to those that are expected and offered by the other personal navigation apps that are currently on the market. This includes features such as live transport data feed integration (e.g., bus, train and ferry routes and timings), integration of alternative transport methods (e.g., for-hire bicycles, car-sharing services, and electric scooters), integration of 3rd party ride-hailing services, recognition and saving of frequently visited locations and trip pricing.