Project MAC of the Mapúa Robotics Team outranked top countries across the globe to win the first World Cup on Computer Implemented Inventions (CII) held during the 6th International Exhibitions of Inventions in Suzhou, China last October 16-19.

The Awards Achieved

Before getting into the World Cup Finals, the Mechanical Anti-Terrorist Concept (MAC) robot initially competed and won in the first World Cup on Computer Implemented Inventions Semifinals for ASIA, Australia and Africa. The International Federation of Inventors Association (IFIA) awarded the Mapua Robotics Team the second place last September 27-30 at the Taipei World Trade Center in Taiwan.

At least 50 countries contended for the gold medal in the World Cup Finals including United Kingdom, Australia, France, Japan, Singapore and China. UK’s computer-programmed Braille system settled for the second spot after Project MAC.

In line with international recognitions, The Minnesota Inventors Congress of the United States of America also gave Project MAC the award of the “Most Outstanding Invention Advancing Quality of Life.”

The team's adviser Engr. Roel John C. Judilla, together with his team members Jaoud Jaylord and Kit Mistosomente, returned to the country last October 21 with the gold medal award after winning the competition. The mentioned event was sponsored by the Microsoft Company.

MAC Released

Together with the Makati Philippine National Police (MPNP), the Mapúa Robotics Team first launched Project MAC last October 14 at the Ayala Center in Makati City. PNP’s utilization of Project MAC’s prototype served as the government’s initial step in improving the country’s defense and police operations.

MAC is the first commercially and locally-made robot in the country. It is a two-foot tall machine produced from aluminum materials, fiberglass and engineering plastic. Project MAC was reported to cost at an estimated amount of PhP 300, 000.

MAC’s main objective is to examine, retrieve, diffuse and dispose any explosive devices without compromising the safety of its controller. With this regard, the Robotics Team chose the PNP Makati department to be the first to use MAC’s prototype as the department receives an average of two bomb threats per week.

In an interview with The New Builder, Sherwin Magon, one of the heads of the Robotics Team, encourages the Mapúan community to create innovative projects like MAC. “Everyone has the capability to do something. If you like something, then you have to pursue it. We did this because we have a purpose and that purpose is to provide safety to people in a purpose-driven research [sic],” Magon said.

As of press time, Project MAC is currently displayed in the intellectual property of the Makati Police District. The Institute, together with Philippine Airlines and Makati Philippine National Police, are the partners of the Robotics team in the creation of the project. In addition, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) donated PhP1.7 million cash for the Smart Bomb disposal robot to be commercialized and be used in the market.

Courtesy of The New Builder