The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) has allotted PHP 561,000 (USD 11,140) for the production of mobile AI-enabled thermal scanners. This is in partnership with tech startup DWARM Technologies, Far Eastern University Institute of Technology and University of the Philippines’ UPSCALE Innovation Hub as technology business incubators.
Six scanners will be produced and deployed to Caloocan City and Quezon City as well as along the checkpoints in both North and South Luzon Expressways. Initially used in search and rescue operations in the aftermath of natural calamities, the DWARM’s drones will now be equipped with two AI detections – a video camera for facial recognition and a thermal camera to detect heat signatures or temperature of a person. If a high temperature is detected, the operator will receive an alert with a notification buzzer and a photo taken of the suspected person. The drones provide real-time data transmission, equipped with GPS, and has a 2-km range for communication between the drone and the base station. The drones will also be able to scan up to 10 persons at a time.
The lead engineer for DWARM hopes to deploy the system by end of April 2020 and that it will be used by all Local Government Units (LGUs).
(Sources: Philippine News Agency; GMA News Online)
