The global pandemic Covid-19 is sweeping fast across continents affecting millions of lives and changing the way we live. Worldwide, health authorities and scientists are racing against time to find ways to contain the further spread of the virus.
Two teams of FEU Tech students and alumni have accepted the challenge to provide solutions, from speeding up the detection of virus carriers and creating 3D-printed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help the country and its frontliners.
DOST-PCIEERD Taps DWARM Technologies' A.I. Thermal Scan Solution for COVID-19
The Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) has tapped DWARM Technologies to produce 6 drone units with their Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) Thermal Scan Solution to assist frontliners in the urgent fight against COVID-19.Samantha Bautista, Electronics Engineer and team leader for DWARM Technologies, breaks down how the innovation will significantly reduce screening time and exposure of uniformed and medical personnel to the novel coronavirus.
"Our A.I. Thermal Imaging system detects a person through a video camera and analyzes the person's temperature reading with a thermal camera. The thermal camera can show a fairly accurate reading of everyone within the camera frame."
Further, Sam shares that the technology can even be implemented in two ways -one, the system is stationed at a checkpoint to read the temperature; and two, the system is attached to a drone for larger area coverage. The system automatically gives an alert to medical personnel once it detects a person who has a temperature of 37.5 degrees and above, one of the symptoms of COVID-19.
Although the project is not without challenges, DWARM Technologies is grateful for the opportunity to work with DOST-PCIEERD and UPSCALE Innovation Hub and to be of service to their country especially during a crisis.
"Due to the lockdown, it is quite difficult to do testing or procure the necessary
materials for the project. Then there's the fear of possible exposure to the virus as
we have joined frontliners to test our system. But the continued support of DOST and
FEU makes our work easier and makes us want to accomplish so much more."The team derived this innovation from their original "Project DWARM: Autonomous Search and Rescue Drone using Swarm Technology, a system designed to help improve the government's search and rescue efforts during calamities. It was also the first student project for FEU Tech to receive a DOST Research Grant in 2018.
DWARM Technologies is a start-up company founded by FEU Tech engineering students Kent Laurence Rivera, Khay Esguerra, Ma. Regiena Alejo, with alumni Dyme Frianne G. Bolicano, Angelito Espiritu Jr, an Electrical Engineer, and Samantha Monique Bautista, Electronics Engineer.