This article was originally posted in The Manila Times by Tony M. Maghirang
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Team, or Team X-LIPAD (Light Intelligent Platform for Autonomous Drones), is a high-tech project that focuses on the application of drones for commercial and educational purposes. Composed of licensed engineers, professors and business-minded individuals from the Christian Brothers-run university, the team is pioneering the first locally developed educational drone designed to increase the knowledge of the academic community on drone technology.
Dr. Alvin Chua, chairman of DLSU’s Mechanical Engineering Department and the project’s leader, told The Manila Times that “X-LIPAD started as a research project in May 2017 under the Department of Mechanical Engineering of DLSU’s Gokongwei College of Engineering. Our aim is to be the trailblazer in revolutionizing the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum of educational institutions in the country.”
According to him, one early problem encountered was the country’s lack of accessible and cost-effective educational drone systems for schools to purchase. X-LIPAD’s drone educational system features hardware and software that will be integrated into the curriculum to expand students’ knowledge on robotics, programming and artificial intelligence.
Chua said that while there are a number of drones available in the local market, none of them meet the requirements on how drone technology could be integrated into the Philippine education space to develop skills for Industry 4.0, or the coming Fourth Industrial Revolution driven by smart devices and machines.
The Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development provided the funding to turn X-LIPAD into a startup. It is expected to fly on its own as a separate entity within the year.
The team has since given 10 free drone kits to several universities in the country, including the Lyceum of the Philippines Manila, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, STI College Zamboanga and Bulacan State University.
Dana Abad, X-LIPAD marketing officer, said: “We received 200 applications for our drone product, and that says a lot about the excitement around UAV technology. We also found out that the first batch of kit recipients are actively using the product. They even sent feedback that we think could help us improve the product so it could cater to the real needs and wants of educational institutions in the country.”
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has severely restricted face-to-face interaction, drone technology is being applied in other countries to serve the needs of people under quarantine. This includes delivering medicines and goods.
Chua said the -19 pandemic had forced academics to be resourceful and adjust to the needs of students. “Given the situation today, our team has been providing assistance and consultation [services, so that] STEM educators could get started with their online courses, particularly in highly specialized courses in calibration, programming and robotics.
“We also continue to give webinars on how UAV technology could positively impact industries. It’s our advocacy to persistently build awareness on UAV utilization in the country,” he added.
For more information, those interested may contact the X-LIPAD Project at [email protected]
