Inspector MAC rules robot tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Inspector MAC, the country’s first Filipino-made bomb disposal robot, is this year’s World Cup of Computer Implemented Inventions grand champion.

“We’re bringing home the gold medal,” Makati City Police chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz told The STAR

yesterday, obviously proud and excited over the country’s victory in the three-day invention competition held in China.

Cruz said Inspector MAC (Mechanical Anti-Terrorist Concept) will be coming home tonight with a team of decorated Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) engineering professors and students, proving that Filipinos can definitely make a mark in the field of robotics.

He said he is yet to hear the details of how Inspector MAC was able to beat other inventions entered into the prestigious contest.

“I don’t really care,” he told The STAR, hardly concealing his excitement when asked who emerged as silver and bronze medalists in the global competition participated in by some 84 nations.

Before it left for China, MAC was conferred the rank of Police Inspector and presented to the public last week.

Conceptualized by Cruz, the MIT professors and students, led by engineer John Judilla, built the two-foot tall bomb disposal robot. The work took several months.

Inspector MAC showed Southern Police District (SPD) Director Senior Superintendent Jaime Calunsod and security officers of Makati City’s Central Business District how it can examine and retrieve an explosive device and bring it to a bomb disruptor for detonation.

With the “Mission Impossible” theme playing in the background, the robot demonstrated how it can work for the Philippine National Police (PNP) in bomb disposal cases.

Inspector MAC is made mainly of aluminum, fiberglass, and engineering plastic, and is equipped with a gripper, drive, field vision, and back vision cameras with night vision capability.

It can move at a maximum speed of 15 kilometers per hour and can even test air toxicity levels in cases of chemical explosions, which means that human lives need not be put at risk.

“We will continue to look for ways to empower the country’s police force in terms of facilities and logistical support in line with the transformation program under the leadership of PNP chief Jesus Verzosa,” Cruz told The STAR.

“Inspector MAC made us all very proud as Filipinos, and he is coming home a champion,” Cruz said, as he also thanked Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay for his support.