RP places third in micromouse tilt

The Philippine team won a silver trophy in the International Micromouse Competition in Singapore recently.

The competition was one of the highlights of the yearly Southeast Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) Conference.

"Micromouse Mickey" of Thailand was the champion, followed by Singapore, first runner-up, and the Philippine micromouse named "Michael," second runner-up.

The intelligent artificial mouse is a small microprocessor-controlled robot vehicle that has the capability of scanning and navigating its way through an unknown maze.

It is pre-programmed to perform around the maze and find the fastest possible route to the cheese without touching or chasing the walls of the maze.

The Philippine team was composed of Cyrus Paolo Buenafe (team captain) of the University of Asia and the Pacific; Clemente Titus Pasia Jr. of Meralco Foundation Institute; and Mario Carreon of the University of the Philippines.

Sonia Javier, overall chairperson of the Philippine Computer Society's International Competition Committee, and team coaches Col. Alfonso Rivera and Louie Abuel of Meralco Foundation Institute accompanied the team.

The Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology supported the students' training. Meralco Foundation Institute is now the home of the Micromouse Literacy Program.

IBM Phils., Systems Technology Institute and Intel Phils. sponsored the Philippine delegation.