Agriculture.ph Blog

‘Agri-bots’ to raise opportunities in RP farming

AS industrialization becomes more evident and opportunistic in a once agriculturally reliable nation like the Philippines, its natural wealth is either neglected or left uncultivated for lack of resources.

To help the important economic sector, Genetic Computer Institute of the Philippines has set “Robotics in Agriculture” as the theme for its 2nd National Robotics Competition on October 24.

“Agricultural robotics aims to enhance the learning of both elementary and high-school students on different processes of agriculture while instilling in them the significance of technological means for its vast improvement,” Pinky Legaspi, vice president for marketing and sales of Genetic Computer Institute (GCI), told the BusinessMirror in an interview.

GCI is an international chain of information-technology training schools brought here by Singaporean experts in 1999. It offers schools robotics as an elective. The Genetic group is regarded as one of the premier computer training specialists in the Asia-Pacific region with a presence in 37 countries worldwide.

The tournament has two categories. Novice is for ages 9 to 13, while intermediate is open to teens aged 14 to 18. Each team can have 15 members to construct and design two robots.

The contest has three parts. First is the design concept, where participants have to conduct an investigation in a rural community. After concerns are identified, three members from a team are tasked to present robotic-solution tools that will help or aid area leaders in solving their farming challenges. Recommended solutions have to be feasible and should create impact on environmental, financial, social and cultural aspects of the chosen location. This segment will constitute 30 percent of the total score.

Subsequent to the presentation is a written exam. All team members have to answer 20-item questions related to robotics, agriculture, science and math. The team’s test-result average will be 20 percent of its total score.

The final phase is the GAME category. Using the robots they made, six members from a team will group themselves into two to play in separate playing fields. Two robots have to collaborate in doing missions of harvesting colored objects referred to as grains, stalks and seeds without bumping each other. The robots must be programmed to bring the collected objects in a barn or market via bridge (road area). During planting season, robots have to move again autonomously to set the irrigation system and activate a biogas system to light up the farm. This three-minute mission accounts for 50 percent of the total score.

Members are encouraged to cheer for their teams in the game proper for additional points.

The maximum allowable robot dimension and weight for the play-offs is 18 cm x 18 cm x 15 cm, and 1 kg, respectively. Damaged robots during the game may be recovered and fixed without interference with other robots-in motion.

Any kind of robot and programming languages are permissible; however, remote control in any form is prohibited. Coaches are not allowed to assist the students in the three sections of the competition.

From the overall champion, three students will be chosen to compete in international robotics, which will soon be announced by Pinoy Robot Games on their web site www.pinoyrobotgames.org.

Last year the 10th International Robot Olympiad 2008 was held at the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

Written by Louise M. Francisco

Source: Business Mirror