The AGROTIS Navigation System, funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), can operate autonomously through GPS-guided navigation or be manually controlled via radio frequency. Developed in collaboration with the Philippine Rice Research Institute and the International Rice Research Institute, it is equipped with a robust safety system and offers versatile solutions for various tractor types. The technology is incubated at the UST TOMASInno Center, the University鈥檚 Technology-based Business Incubator (TBI) and aims to directly benefit local farmers by enhancing rice field land preparation.

During an interview held at the UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center in UST鈥檚 research complex in Santa Rosa City, Bautista discussed the inspiration behind AGROTIS and its positive impact on farming operations. The Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC) tested the system, which demonstrated significant improvements, reducing the field capacity of hand tractors from 31.25 hours per hectare to 20 hours per hectare, and increasing field efficiency from 60% to 80%. Additionally, a customer validation survey showed a 90% acceptability rate among local farmers.

Game-changing innovations like the AGROTIS Navigation System are among the thrusts of the recently opened UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center鈥� to develop technologies that address local challenges and enhance the nation鈥檚 technological landscape, ultimately bringing significant benefits to the Filipino people.

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UST was represented by the Vice Rector for Finance and Faculty of Engineering Regent Rev. Fr. Roberto L. Luanzon, O.P., SThD, DL., while ZTE Philippines Inc. was represented by its Vice President Mr. Jin Zhichao.  The MoA signing was witnessed by the Faculty of Engineering Acting Dean Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, Ph.D., and ZTE Chief Human Resource Officer Mr. Wang Bin.

Three students in the last two years of their academic studies under Engineering, Computer Science, or Information Technology programs will be eligible to receive a fixed grant as part of the ZTE STAR (Skills, Talent, Attitude, Responsibility) Scholarship Program.

Vice Rector for Finance and Faculty of Engineering Regent Rev. Fr. Roberto L. Luanzon, O.P., SThD, DL, in his opening remarks, said 鈥淔or me this is a very important event as part of our partnership and collaboration between an industry and academic community. The scholarship will be helpful, particularly during this time of pandemic and economic crisis. We are very much thankful. Indeed, this kind endeavor is what we need to be more global and helpful to one another.鈥�

ZTE PH Vice President Mr. Jin Zhichao said, 鈥淲e hope this scholarship can cultivate emerging talents [in telecommunications] as they continue and finish their studies under UST.鈥�

Faculty of Engineering Acting Dean Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, Ph.D.,, in his closing remarks, expressed gratitude toward the officials for 鈥渢heir generosity in providing our students with a brighter future through the STAR Scholarship program. It is timely, since in these trying times, many of our students face financial difficulties in continuing their education. In return, we guarantee to provide our students with industry-ready curricula and continue producing competent, committed, and compassionate graduates.鈥�

The partnership began earlier in June 2022, when the 91性息港 (UST), represented by the Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D., signed a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ZTE PH, represented by Mr. Jin Zhichao, for their Industry Academe Linkage Program (IALP) where both parties agree to collaborate on different activities. These include, but are not limited to, faculty immersion programs, internship partnerships, career fairs, career talks, and research collaborations.

Attending the signing on August 17 were Assistant Project Director Mr. Ong Ken Wee, and HR Manager Ms. Joyce Te from ZTE PH.

From UST, the Faculty of Engineering Assistant Dean Engr. Anthony James Bautista, Ph.D., Faculty Secretary Asst. Prof. Ma. Luisa Asilo, Faculty of Engineering Industry, Government, Academe, and Alumni Relations Program (IGAARP) Officer-in-Charge Engr. Charlie Marquez, IGAARP Immersion Coordinator Engr. Sharlene Insigne-Cabal, Engineering Alumni Association Secretary Engr. Judelia Magahis, Asst. Prof. Mildred Antonio, and UST Office of Public Affairs Director Asst. Prof. Joreen T. Rocamora, Ph.D., also joined the event.

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Funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) in 2020, the RoboTractor named Agrotis, which is the Greek word for farmer, had successful tests in navigation using Real-Time Kinematic (RTK)-GPS base station and initial land tillage operation in 2021. With his team of students at UST, Bautista was also able to present an initial working model to farmers at the Philippine Rice Research Institute.

Bautista, who was previously known for his Gregorio Zara award-winning Logistic Indoor Service Assistant (LISA) robot that minimized the exposure of the hospital staff to COVID-19 through remote communication and medicine delivery features, explained that the current Agrotis model has three main features. It has the safety system or emergency stop function; the manual remote-control system that allows manual control of the robots using radio signals; and the autonomous navigation system that will take care of the movement across the farm while the robot performs land tilling or other farming operations.

With an increasing Filipino population heightening the demand for rice but less young people considering farming as a career, the Agrotis project will improve the working conditions and tools in farms.

鈥淏ut robots can never replace our farmers. These technologies only aim to make their jobs easier through efficiency and safety, which can give them more time to be with their family,鈥� emphasized Bautista, who himself belongs to a family of farmers.

Currently, Bautista is working with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to optimize the cost of the technology. They are also looking into the possibility of using small swarm robots for other farming operations, such as land mapping, leveling, crop spraying, and weeding.

鈥淎griculture 5.0 is fast approaching, and we really need to work harder together so that we can cope with the ever-advancing technology. The good thing is that these [machinery] are becoming more accessible and affordable. If this is the case, our next task is to prepare and aid our farmers in adapting these technological tools,鈥� concluded Bautista.

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Bautista was awarded for his project, the Logistic Indoor Service Assistant (LISA) Telepresence Robot. It was recognized for allowing remote communication and medicine delivery between healthcare practitioners and patients, which minimizes the exposure of the hospital staff to the coronavirus.

The Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilAAST) virtually presented the award to Bautista through Zoom, which was livestreamed for public viewing on the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippines Facebook page.

The LISA robot was developed with funding from the DOST – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and was first deployed in April 2020 to minimize the contact of medical front liners with their COVID-19 patients.

The LISA Robot has four independently driven Mecanum wheels, which enables the robot to turn efficiently in a single spot via remote control. Units began deployment in various hospitals in 2020 such as the UST Hospital, Pasig Doctors Medical Center, Premier Medical Center, Binangonan Lake View Medical Center, and Marikina Valley Medical Center, among others.

With the award, Bautista now joins the ranks of Thomasian scientists and faculty members who were recipients of this award, namely, Prof. Maria Natalia Dimaano, Ph.D., (2011, for Applied Science Research), Prof. Dr. Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro, (2015, for Basic Science Research), Prof. Maribel Nonato, Ph.D., (2016, for Basic Science Research), UST Graduate School alumna Dr. Anabelle V. Briones (2020, for Applied Science Research), and Dr. Jonel Saludes (2020, for Basic Science Research).

The award, named after National Scientist Gregorio Y. Zara, is given by the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology, to Filipino scientists who have made valuable contributions to their field of study. Zara, a mechanical engineer, was known for his advances in the fields of aeronautics and engineering.

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The first version of the Logistic Indoor Service Assistant (LISA) robot first garnered attention in April 2020 for aiding frontliners with physically distanced communication between a COVID-19 patient and the medical staff. Equipped with a smart tablet mounted on a mobile base that can be controlled remotely from five to ten meters away, LISA enables communication via internet-based platforms such as Skype, Viber or Facetime. It also has a compartment box that allows delivery of medicines to conscious and stable patients.
Now in the process of creating its third version, the LISA robot is developed through funding by the Department of Science and Technology 鈥� Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) in partnership with Thomasian cardiologist Dr. Rodrigo C. Santos of the Pasig Doctors Medical Center.

鈥淟ast March 2020, DOST-PCIEERD announced a call for proposals for immediate response to COVID19 pandemic, and I submitted a proposal titled LISA robot: Logistic Indoor Service Assistant Telepresence Robot,鈥� shared Bautista, adding that in May, they were granted funds to develop the LISA robots for public hospitals in the Philippines.

鈥淯sing the funding we received from the DOST-PCIEERD, we will design the new model to be multi-functional, meaning the robot will not only be a remote controlled telepresence robot, but can also be used to disinfect bacteria/viruses in a room. With this plan, we will do our best to make the LISA robot affordable,鈥� said Bautista.

DOST-PCIEERD approved a three-year project for improved LISA robots that will begin in 2021. According to Bautista, 鈥淲ith the funding [from PCIEERD], we may be able to develop a fully autonomous LISA robot. The LISA robots that are being deployed now are at Level 1 automation, or remote 鈥� controlled robots. Next year, we will include Level 2 automation that will allow the robot to be controlled anywhere in the world as long as there is a Wi-Fi connection, and then Level 3 automation which will allow the robot to create a map of the hospital and navigate to different locations autonomously using a Light Detection and Ranging [LIDAR] sensor.鈥�

Bautista thanked the UST Faculty of Engineering, especially the Mechanical Engineering Department, for being supportive of his work through providing the facilities to build and test the robot and offering feedback to improve the functionality of the robot.

The 91性息港 Hospital (USTH) and Pasig Doctors Medical Center were the first batch to receive the first version of LISA robots on April 6, 2020, while the second version of LISA robots were deployed on June 20, 2020 to The Premier Medical Center, Binangonan Lake View Medical Center, Pasig Doctors Medical Center and the Marikina Valley Medical Center.

鈥淭he next version will be deployed hopefully in the last week of August 2020,鈥� said Bautista.
Having been used in medical practice by doctors and nurses in the aforementioned hospitals, the LISA robot was then improved according to their feedback. Bautista explained, 鈥淭o name a few [improvements], we modified the base by using four independently driven wheels. The wheels used were Mecanum type, which is a special wheel that will allow the robot to turn efficiently in a single spot. We also improved the wiring connections by making it neatly enclosed in a casing. We also made the tablet adjustable into a different height and made the holder flexible to allow adjustments.鈥�

Despite the increased demand and practical use of his invention, Bautista was firm in his commitment to ensure open 鈥� access to LISA without copyright exclusivity.

鈥淚 will be very much willing to share the technology,鈥� he emphasized, saying that 鈥淢y personal objective for the first versions of LISA robots with Level 1 automation is that it can be accessed by anyone, copied, or improved, because of the COVID-19 pandemic that our country is facing right now.鈥�

鈥淚 am very thankful to our University for their full support in this project. I hope that the LISA robot will serve as an alternative tool that our medical front liners can utilize for their fight against COVID-19 pandemic and will serve as a message that we at the 91性息港 are behind them in solving this problem,鈥� said Bautista.

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