DoST-PCIEERD launches 9 new AI R&D projects

FROM applications in agriculture to the education sector, the Department of Science and Technology — Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DoST-PCIEERD) launched on April 8, nine new projects on artificial intelligence (AI) research and development aimed at spurring growth in this emerging industry in the Philippines.

In a virtual launch, DoST PCIEERD unveiled the AI projects to be undertaken by the DoSTAdvanced Science and Technology Institute (DoST-ASTI), University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin), De La Salle University (DLSU), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), and Caraga State University (CarSU).

“AI is one of our priority areas as it truly can boost the country and usher us to the fourth industrial revolution. As a powerful agent for good, AI can disrupt traditional processes and provide solutions and opportunities that Filipinos can maximize,”said DoST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit.

The Autonomous Societally Inspired Mission Oriented Vehicles (Asimov) Program, composed of two component projects, will be implemented by DoST-ASTI and UPMin.

It will take on the challenge of developing AI-enhanced, mission-driven robots working autonomously or with humans to help address the society’s needs. In its initial phase, it will focus on laying the groundwork by developing and innovating these key functional modules of intelligent mobile robots: sensing, actuation, control, navigation, and communications.

UPMin will handle the Harmonized Aerial Watch and Knowledge-based Survey (Hawks) Project, the aerial component of the Asimov program and will primarily conduct R&D towards the development of core technologies necessary for autonomous drone deployment. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be developed for easy monitoring, object detection, and mapping, with minimal human control.

On the other hand, DoST-ASTI will focus on the Robot for Optimized and Autonomous Mission-Enhancement Response (Roamer) Project. It will develop prototypes of unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that will help increase productivity of different industries in the country, especially agriculture. Techs under Project Roamer are envisioned to monitor, survey, and map agricultural farms for better decision-making and management.