USF students launch syp, a smart bottle sleeve that tracks fluid intake

USF students Rima El Brouzi, Nicolas Scargle, and Mathis Fürst Haugen have developed a smart silicone sleeve called syp. The product attaches to the base of a standard reusable water bottle. It functions as a miniature scale to monitor hydration levels.

Every time a user places the bottle on a flat surface after drinking, the sleeve measures the change in weight. It calculates the volume of fluid consumed based on that difference. The data transfers directly to a companion mobile application.

Users input personal metrics such as age, height, and weight into the app. The system can also sync with smart wearables like Apple watches and Oura rings. Individuals can log specific workouts, including sport type, duration, and ambient temperature. They can also record other beverages consumed outside the tracked bottle.

El Brouzi, a computer science master's student, noted that people currently track sleep, food, and steps. She stated, "And hydration is still such an important part of what impacts our body, yet it's a total guessing game." The app sends customized notifications if a user falls behind on their hydration goals.

The project began after Fürst Haugen, a former USF men's soccer player, suffered a severe dehydration episode. The incident cut his freshman season short. He partnered with El Brouzi and Scargle, a former teammate and roommate, to build the device. Scargle serves as the managing director for syp.

Scargle explained that student athletes often forget to drink water due to busy schedules. He said, "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." The team is currently running pilot programs with sports teams at USF and UCF.