The Wesleyan Engineering Team was hailed as the champion in the 24th SquEEEze Technological Contest last June 13.

Among WUP’s two entries, Project SWAT received the highest score while Project IBUHAWE was awarded 2nd runner-up.

Project SWAT or the Solar-and-Wind-powered Agripest Trapeller is designed to attract and zap moths and other insect pests while keeping the birds away from the farm, protecting crops from any infestation.

The machine can produce 1.94 kilowatt-hours of clean energy per day to power up the ultrasonic bird repeller and UV bug zapper using a combination of 300-watt solar panel and 18.2 Savonius wind turbine.

Robert Miranda Jr, one of the inventors, said that the project used wind and solar energy conversion systems to address pest management problems in farms.

He added that farmers usually do the standard pest management systems such as spraying chemicals, installing tied cans or plastic bags to kill insects. In contrast, driving away birds, farmers were putting scarecrows, firing gunshots, or lighting firecrackers. These are traditional means of

pest management, and it poses a lot of risks and potential threat to both human and environment. Project SWAT is a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to pest management since it introduces a new, cleaner, and safer way of pest control.

Miranda thanked his mentors saying, “Naging malaki ang tulong at paggabay, hindi lang ng aming mga coaches, kundi maging ang buong CECT faculty para maging handa kaming harapin ang hamon sa ibat ibang patimpalak. Mula sa pagsasanay ng mga teoretikal na kaalaman sa Electronics, hanggang sa praktikal na kasanayan sa pagpresenta ng aming mga ideya ay tinutukan kami ng aming mga coaches. Bukod pa sa CECT family, nariyan din ang iba pa naming guro mula sa ibat ibang departamento ng WUP na humubog sa aming kritikal na pag-iisip. Kaya ang karangalan na ito ay pasasalamat sa lahat ng guro at faculty ng Wesleyan.”

SWAT proponents were all Wesleyan ECE students, namely Robert Miranda Jr (3rd yr, ECE), Roderick Fetalbero Jr (3rd yr, ECE), and John Rimbirth Pangilinan (2nd yr, ECE).

Meanwhile, Project IBUHAWE used the principle of wave energy conversion system thru an inverted buoy addressing the problem of communication and safety in the sea. Proponents were Simon Matthew Santillana (3rd yr, ECE), Carlo Romulo (3rd yr, ECE), and Prince Ralph Emanuel Ramirez (2nd yr, ECE).

Wesleyan Engineering Team coaches were Engr. Leo M. Ramos, Engr. Jayson Paul V. Vicencio, and Engr. David Parong.

This is the first time that Wesleyan got the top spot. Last 2019, WUP became a finalist in the same event.