Regional invention contest winners bared
YOUNG researchers Reisha Claffel Ferraren and Peter Gabriel Muaña did not expect to win an award for their high school project that was inspired by an energy-generating shoe.
Ferraren and Muaña, representatives of Philippine Science High School – Central Visayas campus, were named the winners of the SIBOL Award – High School category during the recently concluded 2015 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (RICE).
The other regional winners were the Camomot Cylinderless Pneumatic Press (LIKHA Award), Compact Diesel Brewer (Outstanding Utility Model), Remote Solar Powered Rainfall Monitoring and Alarm System (SIBOL Award for College), Theo Cocktail Table (Industrial Design), Mammoth coffee table, Radica Panels, and Planter (TUKLAS Award).
“Many people said our invention was similar to the shoe that can convert energy. We felt that we would fail in originality,” Ferraren said.
The energy-generating shoe insoles invented by Filipino Angelo Casimiro were the biggest inspiration behind Ferraren’s and Muaña’s invention.
Ferraren said their adviser, Benito Baje, had suggested the concept, but they thought of finding another application.
Whereas Casimiro’s invention focused on generating enough power to charge small USB devices, Ferraren and Muaña focused on making it usable on roads, where many cars and people pass everyday.
HUMAN LOCOMOTION
Their invention, entitled “Human Locomotion VIBRA-E (Vibrational Energy) Harvester Prototype for Powering Light Emitting Diode,” uses piezoelectric materials that contain plates made of lead zirconate titanate to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy (AC voltage).
The researchers also fabricated a circuit that acts as an AC-to-DC voltage rectifier, which they used to light up a LED light during their demonstration.
Muaña said they will be improving their invention based on the recommendations of the judges. Among the recommendations were the use of another energy storage device instead of a battery and getting more data.
Ferraren said they were hopeful that they will be able to work on and finish most of the recommendations by July in order to be ready for next year’s National Invention Contest and Exhibit.
Ferraren and Muaña’s invention is one of the six qualifiers that will compete against other inventions from other regions during the 2016 NICE. Each qualifier falls under a specific invention or research category.
SIX WINNERS
All six regional winners and 12 runners-up were given certificates and cash prizes ranging from P5,000 to P50,000. A total of 42 entries were included in this year’s RICE.
“This is more than what it was last RICE which was in 2013,” Engr. Edgar Garcia, director of the Technology Application and Promotion Institute of the Department of Science and Technology said.
He also reiterated his message during the opening of the exhibit, saying that all of the entries under the Creative Industry category as well as the SIBOL categories will be financially assisted by TAPI in filing applications for patent and intellectual property protection.
“The number of patents filed in any specific country attest to the growth of the industry and help in the global competitiveness of the country,” he said.
INNOVATION INDEX
In 2014-2015 the country ranked 52nd out of 144 countries in the innovation index, which is one of the pillars of the Global Competitive Index. Although the country is still not as competitive as some of its Asean counterparts, it is still hailed as the fastest in terms of improving its competitiveness, he said.
He added that TAPI will continue to support and encourage the creation of more inventions, as well as patenting them, especially in the light of DOST’s “Science Nation Tour” thrust.
Engr. Jesus Zamora, regional director for technical operations of DOST, added that this is a great avenue for inventors to showcase their capability.
“Everyone is a winner. Continue your inventive thinking. You may call it crazy thinking, but good things come from creative ideas,” he said. /Correspondent Vanessa Claire Lucero
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