Domestic abuse victims often face significant barriers when seeking help. Even if they have some mobility,  71% of victims' report that abusers monitor their communication, restrict their movements, and/or manipulate them in a manner that prevents them from reaching out in an indiscreet manner. Current safety tools are either too visible, inflexible, or too dependent on established infrastructure or law enforcement, leaving victims without discreet, reliable, and comfortable ways to signal for help. 

The transition from a functional prototype to a market-ready safety solution requires a rigorous shift from general components to specialized, high-performance engineering. To achieve the "invisible protection" required for survivors in high-risk environments, Project Aegis must evolve through extreme miniaturization and the integration of custom-built hardware. This stage of the project focuses on moving beyond the constraints of standard breadboarding toward a custom-designed Printed Circuit Board that eliminates redundant components and shrinks the device's physical footprint. By integrating advanced communication technologies such as sticker SIM antennas and low-profile GPS hardware, we can finally realize a "housing-agnostic" system that fits into rings, watches, or pendants. We also incorporate kinetic energy harvesting and psychological safety procedures to ensure the device is as reliable as it is discreet. This introduction outlines the technical roadmap that transforms Project Aegis from a localized prototype into a sophisticated, scalable lifeline.

• Mass-produce a custom printed circuit board

  • Allows for a smaller overall design

  • Reduces unnecessary components

• Ring Style Design

• Gyroscopic sensors in combination with ultracapacitators

  • Enables a longer battery life

  • Allows individuals to charge their devices while moving

• Intentions to make the design waterproof

• Customizable outer shell

  • Ring wearable

  • Watch wearable

  • Pendant wearable

  • etc.

• Reduce the size of the Sim antenna via a sticker antenna.

• Customizable button press pattern

• Ability to contact 911

Our long-term engineering roadmap focuses on extreme miniaturization through a specialized integrated circuit. By streamlining the essential components—including a sticker SIM antenna and GPS hardware—into a low-profile chip, we eliminate the spatial constraints of traditional PCBs. This modularity is key to our mission of 'invisible protection,' providing the flexibility to embed our safety technology into any wearable casing while maintaining a zero-obsession, discreet aesthetic. Additionally, working closely with a Tesla battery engineer has led us to conclude that we would like to use gyroscopic sensors in combination with ultracapacitor batteries to provide a user experience that allows charging as individuals go about their day. Additionally, from our survey results, we have identified the glaring imperative for our project to contain the ability to contact 911 operators. Working with clinical psychologists (namely Dr. Matta) has also encouraged us to aim to transition to a customizable button pattern that would allow for an almost entirely customizable user experience. 

The future of Project Aegis is defined by a "dream design" that prioritizes the user's physical safety and psychological peace of mind through technical excellence. By transitioning to a specialized integrated circuit, we move beyond the current modular design to a miniaturized system that meets the most stringent requirements for concealment and durability. The proposed integration of gyroscopic sensors and ultracapacitors—a concept refined through consultation with industry experts—addresses the critical need for long-term battery autonomy by allowing the device to charge through natural human movement. Furthermore, the inclusion of direct 911-emergency contact and customizable button patterns ensures the device is responsive to the specific trauma-informed needs identified by clinical professionals. These planned improvements directly substantiate our design decisions by solving the core conflicts between high-power communication and small-scale wearable ergonomics. Every facet of this roadmap, from waterproofing to mass-produced PCBs, is engineered to ensure the final product is a robust, fail-safe tool for those who need it most