PH robotics team to join int’l tilt, presentations until November

FELTA Multi-Media Inc. president Mylene Abiva told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday that the team already has a lineup of activities. Among these are its participation in: FLL Asia Pacific Invitational in Sydney, Australia on July 4-6; World Adolescent Robotics Competition on August 12-15 in Chongqing, China, and the World Robot Olympiad Finals in Gyor, Hungary, on November 7-10.

FELTA Multi-Media Inc. is the national organizer of FLL Philippines and made the commitment to sponsor the country’s representatives.

The company provided accommodation and meals for Kid Imagineers during the competition in Turkey last May 22 to 26.

According to Abiva, the team presented a project that shows an innovative and effective way of helping astronauts solve musculoskeletal problems while in orbit.

“The suit gives a solution to different physical problems such as bone loss and loss of muscle mass in the microgravity environment of space. The project is a self-adjusting suit that can monitor the astronaut’s pulse rate, exercise their legs and arms, maintain proper posture in space, massage their arms and legs, help attain the right temperature for their body, and protect astronauts from radiation,” she remarked.

The Philippine team, composed of 10 students, bested the other 81 teams from 40 countries.

There were over 600 students, aged 11-17, who participated in the contest which had the theme, “Into the Orbit”.

Abiva was among the 41 judges during the competition.

“Human space exploration helps address fundamental questions about our place in the universe. Space Exploration drives us to explore the unknown, discover new worlds and push the boundaries of our scientific limits,” Abiva said.

She is also hopeful that with the victory of the Philippine team, the government would initiate a Space Education program. (PNA)