TWO THOMASIANS designed the “logistic indoor service assistant” (LISA) robot to help minimize direct contact between frontliners and Covid-19 patients.
Engineering Asst. Prof. Anthony James Bautista and Thomasian cardiologist Rodrigo Santos spearheaded and conceptualized the project.
“The idea was to build a low-cost, and-easy-to-build telepresence robot,” Bautista told the Varsitarian.
A telepresence robot allows frontliners to deliver medicine and communicate with patients from a remote place.
The equipment uses a tablet device with internet-based communication platforms such as Zoom, Viber, or FaceTime, to allow communication between healthcare staff and patients.
The robot is set on a mobile base controlled via remote, allowing it to move to different directions.
By minimizing physical contact, the robot may also help in conserving the use of protective personal equipment.
The Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST – PCIEERD) has expressed interest in funding the project for 3 months, Bautista said.
The LISA robot is in the pilot testing stage, but Bautista hopes that with improvements and support from DOST PCIEERD, it will be ready for hospital use.
