If you’ve heard of the robot MAC, the anti-terrorism robot made by Mapua that is currently owned (being used?) by Makati PNP, then here’s an update about that high-tech bomb squad member. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shows interests on the project and is willing to fund it P1.7M.

The budget of course will be used to make the Philippine robot advanced. Based on Inquirer’s report, the developer John Judilla from Mapua said that upgrades on the robot will be made. The MAC robot will soon use lighter Lithium polymer batteries and fiber glass for body frame to make it lighter. They will also make adjustment to the robot to make it work underwater (in case some terrorist plants a bomb one of the yachts docked in Manila Bay).

The MAC anti-terrorism robot recently won the First World Cup of Computer-Implemented Inventions in Shanghai, China.

Looks like the government is finally realizing that the country needs to be high-tech.

The anti-terrorism and bomb disposal robot made by Mapua Institute of Technology won the top prize in the recently concluded First World Cup of Computer-Implemented Inventions in Shanghai, China.

It’s a bit weird though as the news from Inquirer says that it is the first World Cup of Computer-Implemented Inventions while my research yielded that there was a similar competition with a similar title held last year in Taipei. Anyway that is not the news here. Sources indicate that Philippines’ MAC won over 84 countries that joined the competition.

MAC is currently owned and used by the Makati City Police. Kudos to Mapua for bringing the country something we can all be proud of.