About

Tunik is a Canadian startup developing autonomous devices for monitoring water quality, quantity, and flow. Its systems are designed for deployment in any aquatic environment and deliver real-time data directly to users’ mobile devices. Since its incorporation in 2015, the company has advanced innovations in biofouling prevention, power management, wireless communications, and sensor design. Tunik is pursuing six patents to protect its technology, aiming to set a new standard for reliable, long-term water monitoring worldwide.

Project

Tunik is developing the Spool, a companion to its sonde prototype completed in 2023, to enable fully automated, real-time water monitoring across various depths. Traditional water quality monitoring relies on manual sampling and limited automation, leaving gaps in accuracy and scalability. With support from the CIT Technology Access Program and Cambrian College’s Centre for Smart Mining, the project will integrate the Spool with the sonde into a complete IoT- and AI-enabled system. This solution will undergo testing for deep lake monitoring, showcasing advancements in robotics, wireless communications, and cloud-based data visualization.

Impact

Tunik has already secured early-stage support from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) and continues to advance its intellectual property portfolio with six patents in progress. The company is positioning itself to become a global provider of water monitoring devices and data services. Through this project, Tunik also will train students in mechatronics, coding, and mechanical engineering, while also planning to expand its workforce with three new full-time hires.