Prototype Onda

Where it started

AquaCheck was the original concept: a low-cost, solar-powered buoy designed to measure water quality and identify early signs of bacterial contamination in freshwater. Developed in 2024 at Cornell College by Sofia Garcia and Garnett Strack, the goal was straightforward but ambitious, create a floating device that could measure properties like pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen, and use those metrics to predict when harmful bacteria like E. coli might be present.

The prototype was designed with affordability in mind (under $600 total cost) and built with widely available materials like PVC pipe and an Arduino-based microcontroller. Despite budget and timeline constraints, AquaCheck was able to measure and transmit real-time water data including: Temperature, pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP), and Dissolved Oxygen (DO).

From AquaCheck to Proto Onda

During the capstone, the original buoy then called AquaCheck was deployed in several lakes and rivers across Iowa. At the time, all data was collected live, without any way to track trends over multiple days or seasons. That made it hard to draw long-term conclusions, but it was still a strong starting point. We learned a lot about the mechanics of data collection, even if the insights were not yet scalable or actionable.

After graduation, the project continued, and became more focused. While AquaCheck aimed to tackle water contamination broadly, Proto Onda became a refined proof of concept, a real-time monitoring buoy that could collect data and broadcast it to a local server.

This version allowed us to test sensor performance, waterproofing, data storage, and deployment logistics. We were finally able to leave the buoy in the water for a full week, which was huge. The system worked, but it also revealed important limitations. Some sensors underperformed or drifted, and we ran into challenges with calibration, data reliability, and continuous power.

Ultimately, it showed us what we needed next, a system that could stay in the water longer, provide continuous data over time, and adapt to seasonal or environmental changes. Proto Onda gave us the foundation to start solving those bigger challenges.

A Shift in Focus

Since then, Aquatela Tech’s focus has evolved. Rather than designing and distributing individual buoys that operate in isolation, we are now prioritizing data infrastructure, a centralized dashboard that brings together water quality data from multiple sources our own buoys, open-source sensors, and third-party feeds like weather or land use data.

Our mission is still to make water data accessible and actionable, but now we are leading with the platform. Instead of just building buoys, we are developing the systems and AI needed to turn real-time data into real-world impact, focusing on long-term trends and overall water health, not just bacteria detection.

Proto Onda is just the beginning.