Balik Scientist Rodrigo Jamisola Jr is leading two state universities and colleges (SUCs) design and build autonomous underwater (AUVs) aimed for monitoring rivers and deep open seas.
His research and development proposal involves the engineering faculty of Rizal Technological University (RTU) to design and build an "AUV AUV that can conduct ocean surveys on the Philippine Rise and in Pasig River, while Batangas State University (BATSU) "will develop an AUV that can be deployed to conduct surveys in Verde Island Passage and explore the rich marine biodiversity," according to the Philippine Star.
"It can be done," Jamisola told The STAR. "We will develop it from scratch."
He emphasized that the feat requires hard work and lots of research. The faculty of the two SUCs have gained the confidence and trust of Jamisola in conducting the research.
Jamisola is a professor from Botswana International University of Science and Technology and led in developing military drones for the Botswana Defense Force.
When he was still a De La Salle University-Manila professor a number of years ago, he made a research and development proposal to create military drones to the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines. However, no one agreed to the plan.
While he was finishing his post-doctoral studies at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa, he applied as a professor in Botswana and has been teaching there for four years.
