A no-contact thermal scanner assisted by Artificial Intelligence (AI) Drone is being readied for pilot testing in Quezon City and Caloocan City within April.
The AI Drone Thermal Scanner was developed by a team led by the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tech DWARM Technologies and the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and UPSCALE Innovation Hub.
The group of FEU Tech students and alumni has been tasked to produce 6 drone units carrying an AI-powered thermal scanning system.
DWARM Technologies, a start-up company composed of FEU Tech alumni Samantha Monique Bautista and Angelito Espiritu, Jr., together with FEU Tech students Kent Laurence Rivera, Khay Esguerra and Ma. Regiena Alejo, repurposed their drone system project to meet the requirements to help battle the coronavirus disease.
The FEU drone system was originally designed using a video camera and thermal camera for recognition of heat signatures to locate survivors after calamities. It has been recalibrated to perform thermal scanning to assist at identifying possible infected individuals at checkpoints during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine that has been extended to April 30.
The AI Drone Thermal Scanner aims to help checkpoint frontliners and the queuing public to keep social distancing and minimize crowded lines. The scanner aims to provide an easier flow of people with faster turnover as the drone can scan up to 10 persons at a time and can immediately monitor individuals with temperatures of 37.5 Celsius and above.
DOST-PCIEERD plans to deploy the thermal scanner units along the checkpoints in both the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
There are three more thermal scanning projects being developed by DOST- Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI).
One is a Modified Wood Moisture Meter retrofitted and modified with a thermal sensor. This is an existing product for the woodworking industry that was co-developed by DOST-ASTI, DOST- Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI), and Alexan.
Another thermal scanning project is a small device that can be attached to smartphones using typical wire interfaces.
Another thermal scanner in the works is a device that can be connected to a smartphone with wireless/Bluetooth interfaces. The project are developed by DOST-ASTI’s embedded, wireless systems, and Philippine Earth Data Resource and Observation (PEDRO) teams.
The smartphone-based thermal scanners take advantage of the availability of cellphones among Filipinos. Easy temperature scanning and self-monitoring will be available to frontliners and the public as well. Temperature readings will immediately be known and displayed on the phone screen through an app.
DOST has been partnering with various Filipino technology hubs to develop devices to help in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Among these is the UP-developed GenAmplify Rapid Detection Kit that was recently released and the RxBox vital signs monitor.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to DOST and FEU for collaborating on the AI Drone Thermal Scanner to help in the fight against COVID-19.
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