Hydration Tracking: USF Students Launch Smart Bottle Sleeve

University of South Florida students have created a device called syp that measures how much liquid a person drinks by monitoring the weight of their water bottle. The product is a smart silicone sleeve that wraps around the base of a reusable bottle. It functions as a miniature scale, calculating fluid intake each time the user takes a sip and places the container back on a flat surface.

The data collected by the sleeve transmits directly to a companion mobile application. Users input personal metrics such as age, height, and weight into the app. The platform also integrates with smart wearables, including Apple Watches and Oura rings. Users can log specific workouts, detailing the sport, duration, and ambient temperature. They can also record beverages consumed outside the instrumented bottle.

Rima El Brouzi, a USF computer science master's student and co-founder, noted that while modern technology tracks sleep, food, and steps, hydration remains difficult to monitor accurately. "Today, we track pretty much everything: Sleep, workouts, food, steps, anything, you name it, we track it," El Brouzi said. "And hydration is still such an important part of what impacts our body, yet it's a total guessing game."

The project originated after Mathis Fürst Haugen, a former USF men's soccer player, suffered a severe dehydration episode that ended his freshman season. He developed the device with El Brouzi and his former teammate and roommate, Nicolas Scargle. Scargle, who serves as managing director for syp, described the difficulty of maintaining hydration while balancing academic and athletic demands. "Getting lost in your routine throughout the day with school, training, lifts, trying to fit meals in, and just trying to balance everything all at once, we just forget," Scargle said.

The application sends customized notifications to users when their intake falls behind established goals. This feature is designed to prompt immediate action without requiring the user to manually calculate their needs. The team is currently implementing pilot programs with several sports teams at the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida.

The system allows for real-time feedback on fluid consumption. By linking physical data from the bottle to the digital app, the creators aim to provide a precise record of daily hydration. The device operates independently of the bottle's brand, requiring only a compatible cylindrical shape for the sleeve to attach securely.