Written by: Jhoana Fidel
Photos courtesy of Engr. Anthony James Bautista
April 12, 2020 — UST Faculty of Engineering’s Asst. Prof. Anthony James Bautista, Ph.D., PME innovates a telepresence called the LISA Robot: Logistic Indoor Service Assistant Robot to provide the COVID-19 medical frontliners a safer way of communication with patients.
The project was conceived through a personal request by Engr. Bautista’s friend who is a medical frontliner in Pasig Doctors Medical Center. The prototype-making began last April 1. After being granted access to the faculty’s laboratory, Engr. Bautista was able to finish and deliver the robot last April 6.
The LISA Robot is controlled by a doctor or a nurse via simple remote control. It is equipped with a tablet that contains the Zoom App wherein the communication between the patient and the doctor will take place. It will then be fully sanitized after going back from the patient’s room. Aside from preventing cross-contamination, it also lessens the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), in which our country is currently lacking.
Other than communication, LISA Robot can also deliver medicines and small items to the patient.
The robot is powered by a 12-volt battery. It has an operation time of 8 hours, or a full shift before it needs to be charged again and only requires the ordinary charger device. According to Engr. Bautista, any tablet can be used by the robot as long as it can run the Zoom App properly.
The prototype was made out of readily available materials and has an estimated cost of 8,000 pesos. Engr. Bautista already sent a letter to the Department of Science and Technology to ask for support in the reproduction of the robot. He is also working with the Faculty Dean, Prof. Philipina Marcelo, Ph.D., on plans and strategies on how the robot will be reproduced.
The robot is envisioned to be developed to three levels of automation: Level 1, manually controlled via remote control, Level 2, WiFi connected, which enables long-distance control, and Level 3, fully-automated wherein the robot will be programmed a map and will be able to autonomously travel within the hospital premises. At present, the LISA Robot is at level 1 automation.
The robot is expected to be utilized in the following hospitals: UST Hospital through Dr. Marcellus Ramirez, Pasig Doctors Medical Center through Dr. Emilito Santos, Marikina Valley Medical Center, and Binangonan Lakeview Hospital.
“As a professor and as an Engineer, personally, mayroon akong mga technologies na natutunan, parang feeling ko it’s my moral obligation to contribute sa bansa natin.” said in an interview with Thomasian Engineer.
Engr. Bautista urges the UST Engineering students to do their parts and contribute in mitigating the COVID-19 crisis through studying their lessons and staying at home.
