DAGUPAN CITY — Mayor Belen Fernandez on Thursday lauded three students of the Pangasinan Universal Institute (PUI) here, whose concept of developing a Rescue Optimization Boot-Vest or ROB–Vest for K9, was featured in the Emerging Technologies and Applications book published in Australia .
The three PUI students participated in the 3rd Australian Robotics Challenge and Symposium at the Griffith University in Australia on October 28-30, 2016.
The three are Jilian Kay Madison Sim Fernandez, Mathea Flynne Tan Sim and Beatrice Gail Borja Wong.
The three developed ROB-Vest to augment the search and rescue by canines with robotics technology in the aftermath of a disaster.
Copies of the book were turned over to the Division Office of the Department of Education (DepEd) here on Wednesday to inspire and expose public school students to the concept of developing robots, like what the three students presented in Australia.
The copies were given by Philippine Robotics founder Melvin Matulak and were received both by Mayor Fernandez and Schools Division Superintendent Lorna G. Bugayong along with Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Lourdes Servito, all program supervisors, district supervisors and school principals in the city.
Matulak said this was the first time that a Filipino concept in developing robots was featured in that Australian book.
The ROB-Vest is equipped with different sensors and tools to enhance a dog’s tracking capabilities for survivors during search and rescue operations, especially after the occurrence of an earthquake
“Saving lives is one of the most difficult things to do especially during and after the occurrence of a disaster. This is why we are doing our best to equip our city especially the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and the Public Alert Response Monitoring Center (PARMC) with the latest technology “, Fernandez said.
“I am happy to note that these young minds were able to develop a robot which will help canines search for survivors of an earthquake,” Fernandez added. (PNA)