Written by: Michael A. Dunuan |
A thesis on autonomy technology by the fifth year UST Mechanical Engineering students, under the guidance of Engr. Anthony James Bautista, PhD, was featured in the annual FutureRice Program’s Lakbay Palay in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija last September 12 to 13, 2018.
The team of Tedheus Eigyef Danao, Sean Michole Geronimo, Fredrick Nario, and John Lester Torres demonstrated their autonomously controlled hand tractor among farmers and agricultural engineers. They shared that their project was one of the most successful demonstrations of its kind in the said program.
The prototype gained mixed emotions among the stakeholders. Engineers and agriculturists were enthusiastic about the tractor. Engr. Roger Barroga, head of the information systems division, was also happy with the outcome.
However, the farmers worried that they would lose their jobs but Danao explained that their jobs will only be displaced.
“Displaced, mapapalitan, imbis na sila ‘yung nagsasaka ‘don sa bukid, sila ‘yung nagkokontrol sa robot na nagsasaka ‘don sa bukid”, Danao further explained. To dispel their apprehensions, Danao suggested that farmers will undergo a series of training and seminars to equip them with the knowledge and skills in managing the tractors.
Nevertheless, the people were hopeful that the program will soon be implemented. Even the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) offered its research facilities for the improvement and testing of the tractor. Earlier on August 23, Engr. Alexis Belonio and Dr. Jasper Tallada, PhilRice resident researcher, together with other researchers and agriculturists visited the University to assess the actual tractor.
Engr. Bautista has high hopes that the technology applied by the tractor will soon interest government agencies such as the PhilRice and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Their thesis is entitled Development of Autonomous Platform on a Low Cost Handtractor.
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