Assoc. Prof. Anthony James C. Bautista, DT of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Asst. Prof. Mary Grace Ann C. Bautista, MSc of the Department of Electronics Engineering, and BS Mechanical Engineering alumnus John Raven Red have developed a way to use GPS technology to automate agricultural tractors with the AGROTIS Navigation System. The system was recently featured on GMA Network鈥檚 flagship newscast, 鈥�24 Oras,鈥� in the segment “Game Changer,” highlighting its potential to revolutionize farming operations and improve efficiency for Filipino farmers.
The AGROTIS Navigation System, funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), can operate autonomously through GPS-guided navigation or be manually controlled via radio frequency. Developed in collaboration with the Philippine Rice Research Institute and the International Rice Research Institute, it is equipped with a robust safety system and offers versatile solutions for various tractor types. The technology is incubated at the UST TOMASInno Center, the University鈥檚 Technology-based Business Incubator (TBI) and aims to directly benefit local farmers by enhancing rice field land preparation.
During an interview held at the UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center in UST鈥檚 research complex in Santa Rosa City, Bautista discussed the inspiration behind AGROTIS and its positive impact on farming operations. The Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC) tested the system, which demonstrated significant improvements, reducing the field capacity of hand tractors from 31.25 hours per hectare to 20 hours per hectare, and increasing field efficiency from 60% to 80%. Additionally, a customer validation survey showed a 90% acceptability rate among local farmers.
Game-changing innovations like the AGROTIS Navigation System are among the thrusts of the recently opened UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center鈥� to develop technologies that address local challenges and enhance the nation鈥檚 technological landscape, ultimately bringing significant benefits to the Filipino people.
