Past Engineer of the Future Fund recipients say thank you and explain what the support of the fund has meant for their ventures.
Winter 2026
Bumble Bot - BumbleBot is a retrofittable, AI-powered Smart Cart platform that provides greenhouse growers with granular, real-time heatmaps of pollination readiness and crop health to optimize fruit set and yield consistency.
Aqualis Bio - We are developping a genetically engineered fish probiotic to biosynthesize astaxanthin in vivo to reduce costs and eliminate reliance on synthetic, petroleum-derived sources that are currently used.
ExtendiHealth Systems - AI-powered diagnostic kiosks that divert non-urgent patients from overcrowded ERs by providing real clinical care, vitals capture, physician consultations, and prescriptions on site at pharmacies and hospitals.
ABR Detect - Our capstone seeks to design and validate a portable, low-cost electromagnetic screening device that rapidly identifies the presence of antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections at the point of care, enabling earlier treatment decisions in settings where access to conventional laboratory testing is limited.
Handl - Handl is an affordable, portable, self-stabilizing attachment designed for everyday utensils, used to make eating easier for individuals with hand tremors.
Debris Scout - DebriScout is a compact, plug-and-play payload that helps satellites detect nearby small orbital debris using a radar + camera pair and onboard processing, so operators can reduce collision risk and collect better debris data.
Allio Health - Allio Go is a wearable, wireless breast pump that recreates the natural biomechanics of infant feeding through coordinated compression and vacuum suction, redefining comfort, discretion, and effectiveness for lactating parents.
PRISM - Prosthetic Residuum Interface Sensing Module - A device for pressure sensing at the interface between the prosthetic socket and the residual limb, alerting transtibial amputees and their clinicians of high-pressure areas during daily prosthetic use to prevent skin injury.
NeuroFlow - An automated external ventricular drainage system that reduces the manual monitoring burden on medical staff and standardizes patient care by enabling robust drainage of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), mitigation and clearance of blockages, and alerting staff when safety-critical actions are required.
PinPoint - PinPoint is an automated printed circuit board (PCB) probing system designed to revolutionize traditional approaches for hardware validation and debugging by parsing PCB design files and precisely probing chosen points through a web-controlled, AI-integrated, remotely accessible platform.
L.I.D.D.E Loupes - A head-mounted digital visualization system for medical use that enables adjustable close-up magnification, ergonomic viewing, real time shared viewing, and AI medical screening.
Fall 2025
Eunoia - Eunoia is an emotionally intelligent giving platform that uses AI and blockchain to match donors to causes, verify donations on-chain, and auto-generate impact stories that build trust and transparency.
Olevius - Olevius is a cuff-free wearable that uses a compact optical-fiber sensor and real-time signal processing to continuously estimate blood pressure with clinical accuracy and secure data transfer to healthcare providers.
CoolFlash - Design a cooling device to be worn by individuals experiencing hot flashes caused by menopause that minimizes symptoms with fast-acting and automatic features.
VitalWave - VitalWave is a contactless radar-AI health monitoring system that delivers real-time tracking of heart, breathing signals, and fall detection for safer, smarter care.
· Winner of the Tanguay Prize
LeiLei Zhao - A system for the architectural applications of the double curvature of wood.
MTE Capstone Group 6 - A lightweight, wheelchair-mountable breathing assistance system that provides non-invasive respiratory support through gentle abdominal compression, enabling patients with respiratory conditions to maintain mobility and independence.
Nectar Ninja - Nectar Ninja is an autonomous, low-cost robotic system that uses computer vision to detect pollination-ready flowers in greenhouse environments and mechanically transfers pollen to ensure consistent yields without damaging plants.
VitEx - VitEx reimagines triage with a disposable wristband for continuously monitoring glucose and heart rate levels within emergency departments, providing a data-based approach.
H.A.L.O. - A wearable device for animals that continuously monitors animal vitals (temp., pulse, resp.) to provide real-time data and alerts for veterinarians and caregivers.
KneeGen - KneeGen is a highly personalized, long-lifetime meniscal implant, that can be non-invasively repaired while inside of the body, removing the need for additional surgeries upon implant damage.
SpastiSENSE - A wearable at-home monitoring device for children with spastic cerebral palsy that tracks muscle stiffness and provides clinicians with actionable, longitudinal insights for improved treatment planning.
PRISM - Prosthetic Residuum Interface Sensing Module - A device for pressure sensing at the interface between the prosthetic socket and the residual limb, alerting transtibial amputees and their clinicians of high-pressure areas during daily prosthetic use to prevent skin injury.
DABAM Capstone - Design an automatic fluid injector that would allow for consistent synthesizing of nanoparticles, by controlling volume, flowrate and timing of adding liquid chemicals to a solution.
HearMate - A portable, low-latency companion device that connects to existing hearing aids and uses AI-enhanced DSP to isolate and amplify the voice you are focused on in crowded, multi-talker learning environments, measurably improving speech intelligibility (target speech intelligibility index ≥ 63%).
Spring 2025
Beekon - Beekon is a floating beehive capable of withstanding flooding, which protects pollinators and over 76% of agriculture while enabling floodplain bloom.
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Winner of the Nathwani Prize
Notidly - Notidly is an AI-powered tool that transforms live or recorded music into editable sheet music, making music transcription easy and accessible for everyone.
KneeGen - We are designing a highly personalized, long-lifetime meniscal implant which can be non-invasively repaired while inside of the body.
Division 5 - An AI-powered tool that transforms body-worn camera footage into structured police documentation to reduce the administrative burden on frontline officers.
M3D Labs - Non-planar FDM 3D printer that's capable of printing arbitrary curves and surfaces with slicing software that generates stress-aligned toolpaths optimized by FEA flow simulations.
H.O.V.E.R (High Order Vibration Elimination Robotics) - This is a project for the creation of a tool head stabilization attachment to drones that would allow the drones to complete complex tasks that are traditionally handled by fixed machinery such as welders, 3D printers, or CNC machine heads.
Morty - Digital mortgage and property marketplace platform (that connects homebuyers, developers, and lenders, enabling buyers to get pre-qualified, compare mortgage options, and purchase homes directly from partner developers).
PULSE Jr. - A high-fidelity pediatric neurovascular flow simulator with validated anatomical accuracy, designed to enable realistic evaluation and validation for catheter-based interventions in children.
SANAR: Supportive Autonomous Nursing Assistant Robot - SANAR is an intelligent robotic assistant that autonomously supports nurses by monitoring patients, navigating hospitals, and interacting with humans in clinical settings.
Kintrace AI - Kintrace is an AI-powered, multicultural storytelling platform that helps families preserve, share, and monetize their heritage through collaborative storytelling tools, an opt-in publishing marketplace, and immersive experiences.
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Winner of the Cowan-Rinne Engineering for Societal Impact Prize
Eli - An audio-based AI companion that proactively engages seniors in assisted living to reduce loneliness, promote healthy habits, and provide caregivers with sentiment-driven well-being insights.
MacRobbie Medical Imaging - Our product is a non-invasive, lens free holographic imaging diagnostics device for pre-symptomatic viral detection in high risk patients such as kidney transplant recipients.
NeuroFlow - An automated external ventricular drain (EVD) that reduces the manual monitoring burden on medical staff by enabling more robust drainage of excess cerebrospinal fluid, automating the flushing of the catheter, and providing relevant alerts/notifications when safety-critical actions are required of medical staff.
AI Public Good - Unlike existing entities that charge expensive fees for AI activities, we serve as a charity-like platform for our public good that gathers AI volunteers and experts to help freely spread AI knowledge to everyone and every company.
Winter 2025
Salico - Salico is making an automated harvester for sea asparagus, a crop that is healthy, salt tolerant, and naturally cleans our oceans.
Nuvia Therapeutics Inc. - Leveraging AI and cutting-edge neuropathic pain treatments to develop personalized, non-invasive, at-home therapy for Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome.
Pro-design filters - A novel antibacterial mask filter that provides superior protection against airborne bacteria and viruses, offering enhanced filtration efficiency and preventing the spread of pathogens.
PRISM - Prosthetic Residuum Interface Sensing Module - A device for pressure sensing at the interface between the prosthetic socket and the residual limb, alerting transtibial amputees and their clinicians of high-pressure areas during daily prosthetic use to prevent skin injury.
NewGen Health - NewGen offers rapid urine-based screening and software to optimize dosing, enabling early detection and better outcomes.
Woodpeckr - Woodpeckr is a semi-autonomous robot that climbs and drills holes in wooden utility poles during the electrical line installation process.
Alexandra Yeung - A culturally inspired design for a modular stacking furniture system for small living spaces consisting of storage, seating and table space.
UW ASTRA - Utilize a machine-learning model to actively filter cosmic rays and improve signal transmission to improve future satellite communication and provide a solution to a persistent problem in data transmissions.
Peritonitis Detection in Peritoneal Dialysis - Design a device to be used by patients undergoing automated peritoneal dialysis treatment to perform detection for infection within the PD effluent that improves the examination process.
Fall 2024
MDR Superstars - Our product is an automated, space-efficient inventory management system for Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) departments that tracks missing components, optimizes surgical tray assembly, and streamlines reordering.
Enyana Health - Digital triaging service for rural livestock farmers to provide them with agricultural knowledge and vet services in Uganda.
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Winner of the Nathwani Prize
IoT-Enabled Real-Time Positioning Systems for Navigation and Discovery - Our product is an innovative real-time positioning system that enhances accessibility, safety, and user experiences in complex environments such as university campuses, hospitals, airports, and public spaces using innovative internet-of-things sensors.
CMOS Design and Reliability Group - The present radiation-hardened invention relates generally to semiconductor ICs and devices, and particularly to the flip-flops and ICs and devices which use them.
ProMGO - Our idea is a sweat sensor that measures progesterone levels in real-time, to provide women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome a tool for accurately predicting ovulation periods.
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Winner of the Cowan-Rinne Engineering for Societal Impact Prize
PyroGuard – A material for cancer-free firefighter gear.
Cerebra - The Cerebra headset is a NIRS-EEG system that offers real-time insights after traumatic head injuries to acutely diagnose emergency care requirements (e.g. hemorrhages) and optimize concussion rehabilitation protocols.
Analog Neural Signal Processing Unit - An analog neural inference chip to reduce the power consumption and latency of AI that uses continuous sensor data.
microDLS - The microDLS is a novel characterization device that provides real-time particle size measurements during reactions by integrating miniaturized dynamic light scattering (DLS) with a chip-based in-situ fluid flow system.
Rain Devices - We are designing a modular and portable rainwater filtration system which captures, filters, and stores safe-to-drink water for emergency needs.
Arithmatrix - Educational 2x2 Rubiks cube to teach kids arithmetic and to help develop fine motor skills.
Salico - Salico is making an automated harvesting machine for Salicornia, an amazing salt tolerant plant that is not only healthy and delicious, but a natural way to clean our oceans.
Assistive Soft Robotic Hand (Mechatronics Capstone) – Our product is a wearable assistive device that allows individuals with limited hand mobility to perform the four essential grip types—key pinch, power grasp, hook grip, and span grasp—commonly used in cooking, allowing them to independently prepare meals.
Spring 2024
Smart Spacer, Capstone Team 18 - A fun, compact, sensor-equipped spacer that encourages young children to use their inhaler and gives respiratory therapists (RT) data for better patient condition management.
AlloyAid - An Artificial Intelligence-powered platform to provide suggestions on material selection and production methods in the manufacturing process based on application requirements.
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Winner of the Walker Prize
CrossAI - An affectionate pet robot with adaptive learning capabilities that personalizes its behavior based on its owner's preferences and personality, offering companionship and emotional support to alleviate loneliness and distress.
LacrimaVas - A microfluidic contact lens that is a safe, comfortable, and convenient collection device for tear fluid samples.
Winter 2024
DixaTech Solutions Inc. - Build an AI-powered alcohol detection device that can detect impaired drivers from a distance.
SpinStop - We are increasing the safety and efficiency of helicopter rescue operations by designing a system to stop the uncontrolled spin of hoisted payloads.
Pinguins - An underwater positioning system that allows simultaneous positioning of multiple assets and is highly tolerant to noisy environments.
SATURN - Design a device to be used by transradial upper-limb amputee prosthetic users to sense and deliver pressure information to improve the users' sensitivity and awareness to general touch in a matched-modality form.
Blackbird - Blackbird is a hydraulic modelling approach that aims to efficiently produce flood-maps for large-scale and real-time applications, addressing a need for regional flood mapping and real-time flood forecasting in Canada and abroad.
GlucoVanguard - Revolutionizing diabetes care with unparalleled precision and reliability, our Metasurface-Enhanced Radar-Based Wearable Glucose Monitoring technology offers non-invasive real-time monitoring, addressing accuracy concerns and discomfort risks, while strategically focusing on large-scale production and navigating regulatory environments in the growing Canada Blood Glucose Monitoring Market.
ACR Lab - Our product is a novel breast cancer detection system that utilizes low-frequency electromagnetic energy, providing a safe, cost-effective, and efficient solution for regular screening.
PressurePro - It is a system that maintains pressure levels in an air-filled cushion prescribed to manual wheelchair users with complete spinal cord injuries to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers.
Bexter - Non-speaking autistic children communicate through a board of icons and corresponding words called Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) - Bexter is a humanoid robot which supplements AAC learning sessions at home through storytelling, providing an affordable and accessible solution.
PatientCompanion - PatientCompanion is a digital health solution that improves the communication between nurses and patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
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Winner of the Tanguay Prize
Fall 2023
Le Nv Labo - A Multichannel DAC box for advanced audio format decoding (Dolby atoms) to enable at-home experience of spatial audio technology
BrailleBuddy - Braille read aloud books with auditory reinforcement
- Winner of the Walker Prize
Symphonic - Symphonic enables people unable to vocalize to regain their voice and communicate at the speed of verbal speech
PatientCompanion - Seamless communication app between patients and nurses
Solar Paint - The product idea is solar paint, which is paint that can absorb solar energy that can then be converted to electricity
SATRN (Biomedical Capstone Team 8) - Design a device to be used by transradial upper-limb (UL) amputee prosthetic users to sense and deliver pressure information to improve the users sensitivity and awareness to general touch in a matched-modality form
OSCAR - An autonomous unmanned surface rescue vehicle drives to a drowning victim in water and provides ergonomic floatation before bodily harm occurs while waiting for a rescue team
- Winner of the Tanguay Prize
Spring 2023
HeadFirst – Lateral flow device using saliva for concussion screening
ColoARize - Convenient and configurable Mixed Reality aid for colour blindness
DREAM Sensors - Biosensor to objectively quantify the severity of a patient’s diagnosed depression and predict their response to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) medications
Hera Analytics - Portable, non-invasive, personalized and low cost Point-of-Care device for detecting and monitoring female sex hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle
- Winner of the Cowan-Rinne Engineering for Societal Impact Prize
Iron Seize - Remove small (<20um) microplastics from wastewater with a scalable system that combines novel chemistry with known mechanical and electrical techniques
Trinity Robotics - Building programmable robots enabling users to create hands on robotics projects with machine learning applications
Vida - Using additive manufacturing for the fabrication of novel and optimized electrochemical cells for green hydrogen production from water splitting
- Winner of the Nathwani Prize
Winter 2023
Scan Map Inspect Inc. - AI enabled, augmented reality structural inspections.
Cauchy Analytics - Non-invasive blood flow monitoring for hospital ICUs, replacing invasive Swan Ganz catheters
CHE 482/483 Group 17 - An optimized extraction process utilization membrane separations, liquid-liquid extraction, and pervaporization to extract valuable components from discarded orange peels
poweRFul meter - Meter to measure EIRP of a wireless system, an important debugging and regulatory parameter, for which no single measurement tool currently exists
TBiD - A lateral flow device that uses a saliva sample to perform concussion screening in adult athletes
Fall 2022
2-7 Offsuit - A continuous hand motion rehabilitation medical device.
MTE Capstone Team Group 23 - A robotic system that helps to feed people with disabilities.
Spring 2022
EndoNostics -A non-surgical endometriosis diagnostic tool using nanotechnology
Health Message Technologies - developing a cost-effective point of care test for the detection of pre-cervical cancer lesions.
PMEAL - Recycling lithium for use in lithium ion battery manufacturing.
Winter 2022
EndoNostics - A non-surgical endometriosis diagnostic tool using nanotechnology
Petalos - A modular endoscope with an autoclavable body and removable modules that increase reprocessing efficiency and reduce the risk of surgical site infections.
Health Message Technologies - Developing a cost-effective point of care test for the detection of pre-cervical cancer lesions.
origam-e - A compact high performance light electric vehicle optimized for portability, aimed to improve personal mobility in urban settings.
LoopX Innovations - Autonomous mobile robots to provide more affordable last-mile delivery services.
Fall 2021
Moonlight Haptics - A wearable vibrotactile display for those with visual impairment to navigate their surroundings.
CortiSolve - A novel, non-invasive cortisol biosensor to support accurate mental health diagnoses.
- Winner of the Cowan-Rinne Engineering for Societal Impact Prize
Health Message Technologies - Developing a cost-effective point of care test for the detection of pre-cervical cancer lesions.
- Winner of the Nathwani Prize
ImmunoCool - An economic portable solar refrigerator compliant with WHO specifications for vaccine storage.
SafeWear - A discrete and reusable wearable device that gathers vital signs from hospital patients who are incompatible with more traditional methods, resulting in more accurate readings.
AICE - Creating a conductive adhesive to harness the power of nanowires that will advance microelectronics into an ultra-high-density era.
MEGA - Producing a bio-compatible controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer using a hydrogel nanocomposite design to address the problem of nitrogen leaching.
Spring 2021
BioGraph Sense - Electronic sensors for the detection of pathogens in human or environmental samples.
Health Message Technologies - Developing a cost-effective point of care test for the detection of pre-cervical cancer lesions.
Moonlight Haptics - A wearable vibrotactile display for those with visual impairment to navigate their surroundings.
Maesos Technologies - A cutting-edge sensor and innovative, low-cost and scalable IoT micro-climate monitoring network for farmers.
Petalos - A modular endoscope with an autoclavable body and removable modules that increase reprocessing efficiency and reduce the risk of surgical site infections.
CortiSolve - A novel, non-invasive cortisol biosensor to support accurate mental health diagnoses.
- Winner of the Cowan-Rinne Engineering for Societal Impact Prize
NE FYDP Group 8 - Flexible supercapacitors for wearable electronics.
Lamper Labs - A biomimetic robotic fish that serves as a platform for aquatic research and ecosystem surveillance.
AICE - Harnessing the power of nanowires to create a conductive adhesive that will advance microelectronics into an ultra-high-density era.
HipPO - A compression and temperature controlled hip brace that reduces load at joints for hip-osteoarthritis patients.
Winter 2021
Material Futures Inc. - Engineering pigments with micro-organisms to replace synthetic dyes and colorants.
Fille-strip - Simplifying the process of adding filler material to a fusion-welded joint by simply welding through a strip of the required alloying element that is adhesively bonded to the area being welded.
AquaSensing - Building a green, cheap, battery-free water sensor for water conservation.
Moonlight Haptics - A wearable vibrotactile display for those with visual impairment to navigate their surroundings.
LoopX Innovations - Autonomous mobile robots to provide more affordable last-mile delivery services.
- Winner of the Walker Prize
Petalos - A modular endoscope with an autoclavable body and removable modules that increase reprocessing efficiency and reduce the risk of surgical site infections.
Maesos Technologies Inc. -A cutting-edge sensor and innovative, low-cost and scalable IoT micro-climate monitoring network for farmers.
- Winner of the Tanguay Prize
Fall 2020
AM Ultrasonics - Leveraging the use of sound waves, a new type of material conveyor system has been designed taking the place of the nozzles normally used in metal directed energy deposition additive manufacturing (AM) machines (3d printers).
Lumos - Redefining the experience for light therapy to improve real world adherence.
Material Futures Inc. - Engineering pigments with micro-organisms to replace synthetic dyes and colorants.
Cerebi Solutions - An affordable and user-centred exoskeleton that serves to solve gait issues specific to each person's disability along with skin monitoring, all in a comfortable and esthetic package.
BeBlended - A SaaS enabled marketplace that connects Black women with tailored hair stylists.
FluxForStrength - A defect-free Braze Welding Flux used to improve the mechanical integrity of brazed joints in automotive structural components.
Citrus Life Science - A micro fluidic platform that shortens the discovery process of aptamer biosensors from months to days or hours, allowing for the rapid prototyping of biosensor devices like diagnostic tools.
EyeMove - An add-on device which enables control of a powered wheelchair using eye-tracking.
Masque - A cooling and nose foam strip that attaches to the mask to help healthcare workers feel cooler and prevent their glasses or goggles from fogging up when wearing a mask for long periods of time.
Speculor - A novel teleophthalmology platform integrated with deep learning for automatic diagnosis of eye diseases/conditions.
- Winner of the Nathwani Prize
Spring 2020
Nfinite Nanotechnologies - Applications of advanced functional nano coatings with antiviral properties on personal protective equipment to assist the fight against COVID19.
- Winner of the Walker Prize
Rocket Socket - A dynamic prosthetic socket for below-the-knee amputees that automatically senses and adapts to changes in residual limb shape and volume to improve fit, function, and comfort.
Fille-strip - Simplifying the process of adding filler material to a fusion-welded joint by simply welding through a strip of the required alloying element that is adhesively bonded to the area being welded.
Olnaire - A wearable self-defense technology to help women protect themselves against sexual assault and rape.
- Winner of the Cowan-Rinne Engineering for Societal Impact Prize
Dronee - An online 3D modelling system that utilizes an autonomous drone with existing computer vision technology.
Winter 2020
Soy Boys - A new manufacturing method for plant-based meat processing that improves the throughput and overall energy usage of existing methods, while replicating the texture of animal meat products.
elEVate - A portable battery pack for electric vehicle owners by a scalable module that can be transported by the vehicle during long and remote trips that lack access to charging infrastructure.
Nfinite Nanotechnologies - A novel, patent-pending spatial atomic layer deposition (SALD) technology that can produce films with nanometre-scale thickness control on a commercial scale, that enables the development and commercialization of next-gen green technologies like perovskite solar cells and solid-state batteries.
Kiyo Robotics - An automated piece picking device with robotic grasping for intralogistics.
Material Futures Inc. - Engineering organic pigments with micro-organisms to replace synthetic textile dyes.
blitz - An autonomous charging solution for self-driving vehicles to ready existing EV charger stations for an emerging robo-taxi market.
Scope - An electrically tunable lenses to bring optical zooming technology to smartphones, in a smaller, cheaper, and more aesthetic system.
- Winner of the Tanguay Prize
Caravel - An unmanned road-legal electric vehicle for 2 hour delivery (such as food or grocery delivery).
Fall 2019
Kiyo - An automated piece picking device with robotic grasping for intralogistics.
upRoot Robotics - An automated weed control process to allow increased crop density and eliminate chemical use.
AquaNet - A scalable self-powered remote water quality monitoring network for tracking lake health over time and predicting environmental risks, allowing for early preventative measures to improve drinking water and promote a more stable aquatic ecosystem.
Caravel - An unmanned road-legal electric vehicle for 2 hour delivery (such as food or grocery delivery).
- Winner of the Walker Prize
Vision Spatial Technologies Inc. - A computer vision powered traffic light that improves safety, reduces liability and improves the user experience of ski resort terrain park jumps.
Kidexa Labs - An electromechanical simulator that will be used to train physicians to diagnose Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) in infants aged 6-12 weeks.
eProtect - A scalable and cost-effective protective coating to facilitate the implementation of organic electronics by protecting them from moisture and water-induced damage.
Spring 2019
Mushmade - Designing small household objects out of mycelium, thereby creating a 100% compostable product requiring little energy for production and disposal.
Diffusiv - A colorimetric meat sensor displaying meat quality and freshness.
The Soy Boys - A new manufacturing method for plant-based meat processing that improves the throughput and overall energy usage while replicating the texture of animal meat products.
EmPowerEQ Inc. - Our product is a generator that attaches onto items used for everyday chores in sub-Saharan Africa, such as a bicycle, wheelbarrow, or water collection drum which generates electricity from the kinetic energy of the items to power small-scale appliances at night.
Hydromo - A separation device that will remove microplastics (small fibrous plastics that break off our clothes during washing) from laundry machine waste water, and will be an external device to the washing machine drain hose.
IuvoDerm - An antimicrobial long-term wound dressing for those with diabetic foot ulcers in order to replace the current painful treatment of constant wound debridement.
- Winner of the Cowan-Rinne Engineering for Societal Impact Prize
Winter 2019
Stabilitics - wearable that detects hand tremors due to Parkinson’s disease and mitigates its effects enabling patients to perform everyday tasks seamlessly.
Stacktronic - modular, plug-n-play battery platform for electric vehicles that can be flexibly arranged in 3D space and electrically configured in series and/or parallel with little technical expertise required by the user.
- Winner of the Tanguay Prize
BEAM Robotics - 3D mapping robotics for infrastructure inspection; core technology is based on lidar/image mapping.
Scope - compact, tunable lenses that allow for zooming.
Intelliculture - makes farming more profitable by giving farmers the data they need to make smarter use of their vehicles..
Pulse Home - panelized construction technology developed in partnership with three Canadian Indigenous communities that addresses the housing crisis on reserves while stimulating economic growth.
Fall 2018
Intelline - building mass-custom cryocoolers to enable widespread implementation of cryocooled technologies.
- Winner of the Walker Prize
Solarity - a solar cooker with molten salt energy storage as a clean burning solution for cooking in the outdoors or use in developing countries.
- Winner of the Nathwani Prize
Efficient Housing - creating an adaptable, affordable, sustainable housing solution for at-risk indigenous communities.
IntelliCulture - making farming more profitable by giving farmers the data they need to make smarter use of their vehicles.
- Winner of the Tanguay Prize
Oleotech - removing hydrocarbons in stormwater runoff before it is released into bodies of water, using oleophilic properties of fibre from waste tires.
Augeo Medical - an actuated and sensing transtibial socket for diabetic transtibial amputees that will improve socket fit leading to an improved quality of life for these individuals by increasing comfort and mobility.
Assistive Devices for Cerebral Palsy - designing a multifunctional assistive device for children with severe cerebral palsy (CP), which reduces the number of devices required for the individual to perform basic day-to-day tasks, enhancing the quality of life for the child and their caretaker.
Spring 2018
Brink Bionics - an affordable robotic prosthetic hands that can outperform many of the capabilities of the most advanced hands available.
Atelier Sao - their Rainwater Bridge is an adaptable structure that will alleviate drought conditions and clean water scarcity for low-income villagers in the Mekong Delta by integrated architectural design and local materials.
- Winner of the Nathwani Prize
Intelline - a mass-custom pulse tube cryocooler.
Stabilitics - a wearable that detects hand tremors due to Parkinson’s disease and Essential tremors and mitigates its effects enabling patients to perform everyday tasks seamlessly.
Winter 2018
Esperto Labs - an innovative smartwatch platform which can be modified and built upon by developers to suit their project needs.
SannTek - a nanotechnology-enabled sensor that will determine the quantitative amount of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of marijuana) present in breath.
H2-Solar: An Affordable Solar Water Heater - a thermosiphon solar water heater that provides running hot water, and is affordable, effective and safe to use.
Stellar Night - a mobile platform and bio-signal monitoring system that will enhance overnight respite care services for families with children who have complex medical needs.
Excilia - a speech therapeutic aid to give real-time feedback to patients and remote-monitoring for therapists.
NoStrain - a wearable that monitors finger and wrist motion to prevent excessive strain to the hand and provides feedback of the user's movement through a phone application.
Circadian Energy - providing electricity access for under-serviced or remote regions through an expandable energy infrastructure, driven by a network of consumer-level power hubs, capable of sharing energy and a management system that predicts and adapts to usage patterns.
- Winner of the Cowan-Rinne Engineering for Societal Impact Prize
Green Sorbs - a sorbent boom used to clean up oil spills, made with recycled tire materials from landfill waste.
Fall 2017
Kinetic Imaging - a high-speed camera that is much more affordable to scientists and enthusiasts alike.
Esperto Smartwatch - an innovative smartwatch platform which can be modified and built upon by developers to suit their project needs.
WaterWeb - a system to collect water from air using bioinspired fibre that contains nano-structures.
Qalm - a heat traced insulated tubing line integrated with phase changing materials.
EPOCH - a platform for a skills marketplace that connects newcomers and community members, using time as a means of exchange.
- Winner of the Nathwani Prize
Spring 2017
Autronics - integrating behavioural sciences and physiological signal monitoring to provide a tool that will assist individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in developing emotional control.
HeadIt VR - a soccer heading simulator in virtual reality that allows children and injured athletes to practice without the risk of concussion.
sketch3D - a smooth and accurate robotic arm tracking a user’s movement in 3D space.
PixUp - a cross platform application that automatically detects and fixes artifacts in the image.
SixthSense - a wireless sensing suite to enable engineers and makers to rapidly prototype biomedical devices, environmental sensing devices and home security devices.
Innovatech - a novel, vibration-sensing shoe inspired by the biological adaptations of snakes, designed to help those who are audibly or visually impaired to better navigate their surroundings.
NoStrain - a wearable that monitors finger and wrist motion to prevent excessive strain to the hand and provides feedback of the user's movement through a phone application.
POCKIT - a design studio focused on creating sensible products for the people of today, with a specific focus on the millennial generation and the compact living requirements which support this demographic.
Sanntek - a nanotechnology based sensor that will determine the quantitative amount of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the active component of marijuana) present in breath.
Ecko - a visual aid for the deaf and hard of hearing by displaying subtitles and the direction of the speaker on augmented reality glasses.
River-Rehab - a new design of pool-riffle sequences for river restoration and rehabilitation based on turbulence numerical analysis.
Winter 2017
Ergonomics in Masonry Training - a system that includes a wearable suit for posture detection, data collection, and user-facing feedback for Masons to ergonomically correct their postures during training in masonry institutes.
Vena Medical - a first-person, real-time perspective for interventional physicians navigating through arteries and veins.
- Winner of the Tanguay Prize
Project Centaur - a robot that automates pipe inspection in nuclear power plant boiler rooms to reduce radiation exposure to workers during operational maintenance.
Polymath Sciences - using liquid crystal elastomers to build a cheap, light weight, and durable alternative to currently existing mechanical braille displays.
DropLab - automating wet lab experiments by controlling movements of droplets through digital microfluidics.
Air2o Industries - a low cost, Eco-conscious method of producing potable water in developing regions with water scarcity problems.
BioBit - the first diagnostic foot insole that quantifies gait metrics and uses machine learning to accurately assess risk of fall.
For Peat's Sake - a device to measure frost depth in peatlands.
Propelme - aims to enhance each high school student’s personal and professional development through a student driven mobile platform that handles club management, internal communication, and resource consolidation.
NO3 Solutions - The product is a sensor that can be used in groundwater or surface water to detect and monitor nitrate.
Fall 2016
Flexo - a low-cost work uniform capable of detecting incorrect posture and alerting the user via haptic feedback
Knee Extension Assist/Flexion Resist mechanism for RGOs -a new knee brace design for RGOs (Reciprocating Gait Orthoses) that will help wheelchair-bound individuals overcome the challenges of sit-stand and stand-sit transitions through the use of knee extension assist and flexion resist mechanisms.
Happen - Medical therapy and simulation through immersive, multi-sensory and risk-free virtual reality.
Maviana - an easy way to determine the most optimal way to cut with a given milling machine.
NO3 Solutions (NO3S) - a sensor that can be used in groundwater or surface water to detect and monitor nitrate.
Skeleprint - a 3D printer that can generate a long term bone graft that is designed to exceed the mechanical properties of bone using a biocompatible ink.
Chameleon Hearing Protection - a low-powered, responsive variable attenuation ear protection device.
Juno - a conversational bot that will engage and inform young women about women’s health issues such as cancer screenings.
DropLab - automating wet lab experiments by controlling movements of droplets through digital microfluidics.
Kinetic Imaging - a high-speed camera that is much more affordable to scientists and enthusiasts alike.
Spring 2016
Sienci Labs - a high performance desktop CNC mill that creates functional parts out of virtually any material.
Propelme - aims to enhance each high school student’s personal and professional development through a mobile platform that handles club management, internal communication, and resource consolidation.
NoiseCare - a noise cancelling speaker system which will allow anyone to have quiet zones in places such as busy coffee shops or rooms without the need for headphones or any installation.
Fire Response System - easily deployable sensor system that will survey and assess a fire and provide the firefighters with information about the blaze.
Enpact - a battery-free smart insole powered by human motion that tracks athletic performance data.
Voice - custom-made ergonomic gloves which deaf/mute people can use to translate sign language into speech.
Rapid Crop Volumizer - a low-cost integrated system that is capable of detecting the volume of an agricultural crop passing on a conveyor belt and uploading the results to a web portal for reporting purposes.
Winter 2016
HackerScore – a centralized hiring pipeline for engineers.
VivaSpire - a portable self-replenishing long-term oxygen therapy device for the treatment of heart and lung conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
- Winner of the Walker Prize
Nurhachi – a distributed system platform to better manage private energy generation and storage assets.
Team Zephyr – a comprehensive system that allows building managers, owners, and occupants to understand their indoor environment and make data driven decisions across a portfolio of buildings that improve user health and productivity.
Arylla Inc. - a low cost nanoparticle based taggant system that can be used to prevent counterfeit goods from entering the supply chain.
Fall 2015
ThirdEye Mining Technologies - a mining emergency management system with a wearable smart jacket, which monitors heart rate, geo-location, and noxious gases.
Babylon VR - a virtual reality platform for engineers and designers to view their 3D models in real scale.
Landmine Boys - making landmine disposal safer and more efficient by building a machine that can remotely neutralize landmines without detonation.
- Winner of the Tanguay Prize
NanoStars - using paper as a platform to create a facile, inexpensive and self-contained sensor for use in developing nations to enable arsenic detection in water at concentrations lower than the safe limit prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
BioFlex Implant - extending the application of biodegradable polymers to the creation of a flexible intramedullary nail for pediatric orthopedic surgery.
Varden Labs - an autonomous shuttle system.
- Winner of the Tanguay Prize
Autonomous Mobility Aid - an autonomous walker (mobility aid) that will navigate to the user when called upon.
Green Energy Wall - an electrical energy storage system using re-purposed electric vehicle batteries that will be embedded based on current research.
Spring 2015
Residential Solar Heating & Cooling - product seeks to utilize the heating and cooling components available in the consumer's natural environment to provide a reduced energy bill and environmental footprint.
Thalo - a reflective display technology much like e-link, which can display in full colour and at a much faster refresh rate, allowing full interactivity while using very little power.
Enactus Waterloo - Project Cricket focuses on utilizing cricket farming to provide protein-rich food as an alternative to traditional livestock.
Lani Inc - a hardware router that automates 3D printers by sending jobs wirelessly from multiple users.
Helios - filling the current telecommunication infrastructure gaps by providing an affordable system to reach more people, and empower people to connect more with each other.
Portable Two-Way Radio Transceiver - an ultra-portable two way radio transceiver which pairs with a smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing the smartphone to communicate on radio bands normally only accessible by traditional two-way radios.
Project Reservoir - a climate and soil monitoring system that maps out the health of an environment and sends instructions to an automated irrigation system for more optimized use of resources such as water or fertilizer.
Tether - introduces mobility to the desktop mouse and frees users from their desk, allowing productivity to every surface without sacrificing precision.
Arylla Inc. - a low cost nanoparticle based taggant system that can be used to prevent counterfeit goods from entering the supply chain.
Educational Radio Frequency Transmitter - a low cost-educational radio frequency transmitter that will allow students to interactively learn about stages of a transmitter.
Winter 2015
Suncayr - a unique UV-responsive marker ink that when applied to skin, can be used to regulate the effectiveness of an individual’s sun protection.
Vitameter - a personal handheld device that can analyze the vitamin levels in a single drop of blood, providing the user with the information needed in order to control their health.
NERv - a post-surgical implantable bio-sensor designed to detect many common post-operative complications such as internal bleeding, inflammation, septic shocks etc.
- Winner of the Walker Prize
EdgeBotix - a robust, low-cost, sensor-packed educational robot for the purpose of teaching computer science and advanced engineering concepts such as control systems, robotics or machine learning.
Tongo - adesign to create an innovative mouth guard to leverage the human-computer interaction for users with a disability.
Grasp - a simple to use bicycle lock that eliminates bicycle security as a deterrent for choosing cycling as a green mode of transportation.
Solder Otter - a consumer soldering iron for electronics that is simpler and safer allowing projects to be finished faster.
Breeze - aNanofibrous respiratory face mask with high filtration efficiency for ease of breathing.
Thalo - a reflective display technology much like e-link, which can display in full colour and at a much faster refresh rate, allowing full interactivity while using very little power.
Fall 2014
Localmotive - an online marketplace for the wholesale distribution of locally produced food items.
Ion Thruster - a micro-fabricated ion thruster, which uses electric power to deliver high efficiency thrust using a very small quantity of fuel.
Suncayr - a unique UV-responsive marker ink that when applied to skin, can be used to regulate the effectiveness of an individual’s sun protection.
VR-Blue - a story-boarding tool for content creation through virtual reality mediums.
NERv - a post-surgical implantable bio-sensor designed to detect many common post-operative complications such as internal bleeding, inflammation, septic shocks etc.
Rocket - a scalable growing system to grow and sell food to communities on commercial and institutional rooftops year round.
Spring 2014
Evergrow - a controlled-released fertilizer with a water retention layer that will advance home gardening and combat the world's food crisis.
EyeCheck - a low-cost automated vision screening to millions of people in the developing world.
SiScope - a product that leverages the abilities of the audio codec to digitize and route physiological sounds through a multi-channel output framework.
Winter 2014
Wearability - an electromyographic (EMG) shirt to measure electrical activation in muscles with the goal of leveraging this data to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) including lower back and neck sprains and strains.
Bridges to Prosperity - provide access to vital resources, such as health care and education, to isolated communities and aim to do so one footbridge at a time.
Pulse Punching Bags - an exercise device for people interested in learning the basics of martial arts. The system is an interactive smart punching bag with an online ecosystem that provides cardio workouts and improves the user fighting technique safely, enjoyably and without the need for a personal trainer.
NanoLite Technology - integrating heart management, moisture management and antibacterial properties in shirts to make you look and feel the best you possibly can.
DraftingSPACE - a software that automatically generates customized floor-plans for interior space.
Suncayr - a unique UV-responsive marker ink that when applied to skin, can be used to regulate the effectiveness of an individual’s sun protection.
Rocket - a scalable growing systems to grow and sell food to communities on commercial and institutional rooftops year round.
Counter Intuitive - large-scale, complete solution for manufacturing glass countertops.
Sierra - an innovative GoldProbeTM sensor, which simplifies complex and costly biochemical analysis equipment into a product that is handheld, smartphone-ready, extremely low-cost, and versatile enough for use by regular consumers and experts alike.