TO HELP curb the spread of Covid19, a group of students from the Mariano Marcos State University developed an automated ultraviolet light disinfection system for indoor spaces.

Named Project Ultra, the disinfection system was created by electronics and communication engineering students.

“Initiated by Engr. Wilson Duldulao of ECE department, the project was started by the group of Earl John Bareng, Frida Niña Dimoloy, Cheryll Moana Marie Ibarra, Kennet Lloyd Quiape, and Aaron Alexander Santos who already graduated. It was continued by Fraezznel Albayalde, Humphrey John Balanay, Franz Joseph Colobong, Marc Nathaniel Diaz, and Jose Angelo Pascua, all second year ECE students,” MMSU said.

“This project of the MMSU College of Engineering has qualified for the Smart Prepaid Innovation Generation program being implemented by the Smart Communication, Inc. this year. The company granted P75,000 cash and Wi-Fi devices worth P20,000 to the project team to develop the technology,” it added.

Technology uses a mobile application that allows users to set timers, monitor interruptions, and shut off the system from a safe distance.

It also aims “to cut costs and manpower needed in manually disinfecting enclosed spaces like classrooms, offices, and business establishments.”

Engr. Priscilla Faye Simon, ECE faculty member, said they came up with the project after observing that janitors in the university face the risk of getting exposed to UV light during disinfections.

Albayalde, one of the project proponents, said the disinfecting system “has a passive infrared sensor that can detect human movement within its range and causes the UV light disinfectant to automatically shut off when it perceives any movement.”