A team of students from Nueva Ecija has achieved global recognition, securing a gold medal at a recent world robotics championship with their multi-functional home assistant robot.
The students, who attend Top Link Global Colleges in Cabanatuan City, earned the top honor at the World Robotics Olympiad Asia Pacific Open Championship 2025. This prestigious gathering took place in Pasay City and included competitors from 24 different nations.
Competing under the name “Robotics Catalyst,” the group was awarded first place in the Future Innovators category. Their winning invention, dubbed “Project FRANCIS,” also earned them the Best Team Award.
Project FRANCIS, which draws inspiration from Pope Francis, is an acronym for Futuristic Robot for Assisting Navigation, Care, Interaction, and Support. Joselito Broblan Jr., the team’s leader, emphasized that the robot’s primary role is protection. He described it as a “hope assistant robot” that actively safeguards every member of a household.
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The robot serves as a comprehensive home monitoring system. It is equipped to identify hazards such as fire, extreme temperature shifts, and flood conditions. Upon detecting a threat, it automatically sends warning messages to both family members and emergency services.
In addition to its safety features, the robot offers practical daily support. It can manage reminders for appointments and medication, and it includes a port for charging mobile devices. The entire unit is designed to be eco-friendly, operating on solar power.
The team intends to continue refining Project FRANCIS to make it widely available. They also expressed a hope that their success would inspire other young people to overcome obstacles and relentlessly pursue their own ambitions in science and technology.
Source: GMA News