Developed by Thomasian engineers and researchers, the robots 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. It also had a compartment box that allowed the delivery of medicines and documents and provided a helping hand in disinfection.

“Itong bagong version ng (LISA) robot, gumagamit kami ng tinatawag na simultaneous localization and mapping, wherein gumagamit kami ng LIDAR sensor para ma-map ng robot ang facility, and then ise-save niya sa memory niya iyon. With that concept, makakapag-navigate ang robot.” Project leader Assoc. Prof. Anthony James C. Bautista, PhD, PME, MBA said in the interview.

In 2021, the LISA robot was developed and enhanced through funding by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).

Bautista is a researcher in the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences and a faculty member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The LISA robot team is composed of Engr. Ma. Madecheen Pangaliman, M.Sc. of ECE department, Ms. Alma Perol of ICS department with research assistants Mr. Sherwin Dignadice, Kendall Felicilda, Thaynnie Princes Enclonar, John Raven Red, Jose Gamaliel Gutierrez and Thomasian co-inventor, from Pasig Doctors Medical Center, Rodrigo Calalang Santos, MD. Special thanks to Dr. Antonio Etrata and Ms. Izza Arnaez of UST marketing department and Mr. Frederico Mendoza of UST industrial design department.

Watch the segment here:

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Jeriko Ordan landed at the 5th place with his 92.15% score, followed by JF Nichols Cortez who landed at the 8th place with his 91.50% score, and Daniel Cenidoza scored 91.45% at #9.

UST also produced 109 new licensed Thomasian Civil Engineers and tallied a 75.17% passing rate.

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The University registered an 89.33% passing rate, higher than the 72.34% national passing rate, and produced 67 new licensed Thomasian mechanical engineers.

The Professional Regulation Commission conducted the said licensure exams.

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Agriculture in the Philippines and neighboring ������Ƶapp countries faces a critical challenge: the annual decline in farm labor availability, estimated at 1.5%. Younger generations are increasingly uninterested in farming, leaving an aging workforce with an average age of 55 to 60 years. This trend could affect our food sustainability within the next 5 to 10 years.

Addressing this pressing issue, AGROTIS transforms conventional hand tractors into fully autonomous machines. The system uses a GPS module for precision navigation and a compass module to determine the robot’s orientation. With this technology, farmers can control multiple hand tractors simultaneously, increasing efficiency and reducing manual labor. Safety is also prioritized with an emergency shutoff feature installed in the system.

Funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), the AGROTIS system was developed in collaboration with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and UST’s own technology business incubator, the TOMASInno Center (TIC). Its modular design can be extended to other machinery like rice harvesters and transplanters. Tested by Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC), AGROTIS has demonstrated 80% field efficiency and 20 hours-per-hectare field capacity compared to traditional methods, significantly enhancing productivity.

The team plans to deploy AGROTIS through rental models for rice cooperatives and direct sales to farmers, while also seeking collaborations with international tractor manufacturers. With a vision to expand into ������Ƶapp markets, the system is a step toward modernizing agriculture and ensuring food sustainability.

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UST logs an 81.82% passing rate, producing 63 new master plumbers comprised of graduates from the Faculty of Engineering.

The board exams was administered by the Professional Regulation Commission.

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Join us for insightful talks from esteemed plenary speakers, an exciting general assembly, and a special recognition ceremony to honor our generous benefactors who have contributed to the growth and success of the Faculty and students through donations and scholarships.

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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’s 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’s 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— to develop technologies that address local challenges and enhance the nation’s technological landscape, ultimately bringing significant benefits to the Filipino people.

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The university’s passing rate likewise surpassed the 54.12% national passing rate.

The Professional Regulation Commission administered the said licensure exams.

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The 65-square-meter chapel with sacristy and vestibule is located at the ground floor of the UST-TTCIC. It can accommodate up to 50 persons at a time. It will cater not only to the occupants of the building and the campus but also to the communities around UST Santa Rosa. The project includes an altar wall of natural marble stone and travertine stone as well as customized set of pews, designed with the Thomasian stamp.

Engr. Pe (CE Class of 1987) is the owner of Archipelago Builders Corporation, a category AAA construction company.  He served as President of the USTEAAI in 2018-2019 and an active member of Couples for Christ with his wife.  He remained an active supporter of USTEAAI and of the Faculty of Engineering after his stint as President.  He is also the proud father of Engr. Paolo Pe (CE Class of 2015) who played with the UST Basketball Team for five years. “I am grateful to the University for this opportunity to assist in its long-term plan.  The plan for UST-TTCIC is very good, and I am happy to be a part of it,” Engr. JP Pe said.

The UST-TTCIC is a facility that provides the venue in transitioning the Research & Innovation outputs of UST researchers to commercialization.  It shall provide the venue in which the University makes available a range of expert and technical services to business owners among UST stakeholders with particular attention to the micro- small- and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).  As such, it will house the Center for Research Commercialization and Entrepreneurship, which will include the TOMASInno Center (TIC) – the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) of the University. “With the University’s vision for UST-TTCIC’s role in our long-term plans to take Research & Innovation to the next level, it is important for us that the first fit-out project in the building is one that involves giving thanks to God and reaching out to our new community in praise of God. We didn’t have to explain this in many words to Engr. Pe. He was immediately on board,” Prof. Marcelo said.

A group of UST officials met with Engr. Pe at the UST-TTCIC for a walk-through and to explain the design of the chapel.  They were pleasantly surprised when Engr. Pe handed them his gift in the middle of the discussion.  The UST Santa Rosa Team was composed of Prof. Marcelo and Engr. Shikara P. Poblete-Jose, MSc (Project Management Assistant). They were joined by the project designer, Ar. Paulo Cabatit of the Facilities Management Office (FMO). “I hope that more Thomasians, especially Thomasian engineers, could be given the opportunity to be a part of the development of UST Santa Rosa and the whole UST, particularly in showing their expertise as builders.  We are ready to help,” Engr. Pe said.   

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UST registered a 75.76% passing rate in the licensure exams administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

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