As part of the project's early-stage evaluation, the Proposal Presentation Session for Milestone 1 was conducted to present ResQ to Ms. Yasodha Vimukthi and Mr. Thilina Gunarathne. The session focused on validating the feasibility, clarity, and overall direction of the proposed solution. We discussed the motivation behind ResQ, its intended functionality, and its potential impact on CPR training.

The evaluators confirmed the relevance of the proposed idea and provided constructive feedback, particularly emphasizing the importance of budget feasibility and alignment with recognized CPR training standards. They also recommended engaging with resource persons from the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences to verify clinical requirements and clarify any additional needs.

Overall, the session was a valuable learning experience that strengthened our understanding of real-world constraints and expectations. The feedback received will guide further research, planning, and refinement of the ResQ system to ensure it is practical, standards-compliant, and technically robust.

As part of the early prototype development phase of ResQ, we designed and stitched the first basic overlay jacket after researching suitable design options, materials, and required components. A BB bladder was selected and used as the pressure bag in this initial model to support the intended compression-based mechanism.

In parallel with the mechanical development, the sensors planned for the system were tested to verify their suitability for the prototype. The test results showed that the sensors were performing as expected, giving us confidence in the selected sensing approach and confirming that the current component choices are appropriate for the next development stage.

With the basic jacket structure completed and the sensor behavior validated, our next plan is to assemble all components together and develop a working basic prototype model for further testing, refinement, and integration.

This update presents our first practical prototype of the ResQ overlay jacket. We prepared a basic stitched structure and connected a manual pressure setup to observe how compression input behaves through the jacket layer.

The video focuses on three points: physical fit of the jacket, response of the pressure section during repeated compression, and overall stability of the setup for future sensor integration.

Based on these observations, the next phase is to mount sensing components, collect repeatable test readings, and finalize a more robust combined prototype for validation.

As part of the system integration phase, we successfully completed the core firmware flow, Local Hub implementation, and physical hardware wiring for our basic working prototype. The ESP32-C3 firmware has been fully optimized to manage critical device operations, including network provisioning, secure pairing, session start/end controls, and the continuous streaming of real-time sensor telemetry via the MQTT protocol.

On the hardware side, the pipeline now actively processes inputs from integrated pressure sensors and Hall-effect sensors. In parallel, the ResQ Local Hub was developed to handle localized network operations. Built using a Node runtime within a lightweight Tauri desktop environment, the Hub hosts the local MQTT broker, manages backend microservices, and powers the interface designed for live session monitoring.

With the firmware, Local Hub, and hardware pipeline now connected end-to-end, the ResQ system is fully operational. We are now able to capture live data directly from the prototype jacket and visualize critical metrics on the dashboard in real time. Moving forward, our next steps will focus on system hardening, improving live-state responsiveness, and validating the setup across multiple simulated CPR training scenarios—specifically targeting the precise measurement of compression rate, recoil rate, depth, and hand placement.

We have reached a major project milestone by successfully completing our Milestone 2 MVP Presentation for ResQ. We presented the current progress of our working prototype to our evaluators, Ms. Yasodha Vimukthi, Mr. Thilina Gunarathne, and the instructors in charge. During the session, we delivered a live demonstration highlighting the successful integration of our ESP32-C3 firmware, seamless Local Hub connectivity via MQTT, instantaneous telemetry updates on the dashboard, and the functionality of our current prototype overlay system.

The presentation was highly successful, and we received positive validation regarding our MVP implementation, technical architecture, and overall system functionality.

As we transition into the next phase of development, the valuable feedback from the evaluation panel will guide our refinements. While we initially designed a stitched fabric overlay model as a cost-effective solution to avoid the high manufacturing expenses of traditional training manikins, the panel suggested finding a strategic middle ground. Moving forward, we will focus on enhancing the physical realism and tactile feel of the overlay jacket to better simulate an actual CPR training experience while still maintaining a budget-friendly design.

To ensure ResQ bridges the gap between engineering and medical reality, we conducted a vital field visit to the Skills Lab of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Peradeniya. The primary objective was to observe, test, and experience a professional, standard CPR training manikin in an authentic medical training environment. This hands-on experience gave us a much deeper understanding of the tactile realism, usability constraints, and physical durability required for effective CPR training equipment.

During the visit, we had the privilege of discussing the ResQ project with Professor H.D.W.T. Damayanthi Dassanayake. We presented our prototype concept and received invaluable expert feedback regarding strict clinical requirements, student user expectations, and areas where our technology could offer the highest pedagogical value.

This cross-faculty collaboration marks a major step forward for the project. The insights gained regarding anatomical resistance, user interaction, and clinical accuracy will directly guide our next design iterations—specifically targeting the optimization of our sensor placement and refining the manikin overlay to hit that perfect middle ground of cost-efficiency and realistic tactile feedback.