Feb 1 2011
The Naresuan Maharaj Camp, located in Chiang Mai, announced that they have commissioned the Lanna Polytechnic College to develop an EOD robot.
The college has developed a total of five EOD robots, with each of them costing Bt 50,000. The robots were developed using the raw materials purchased from the Banmoh market.
The border patrol police have now asked the college to develop more EOD robots. Deputy Director of the Lanna Polytechnic College, Prasit Chooduang, stated that the college has been collaborating with the camp for over 20 years. Lanna Polytechnic’s Assistant Director, Kittisak Taemtong, develops EOD robots with the help of auto-mechanic students. He added that the robots were developed using the washing machine, motorcycle, and bicycle parts.
Bangkok’s Army has also offered Bt 1.5 million to King Mongkut's University of Technology to develop an EOD robot. Thai Robotics Society’s President, Thavida Maneewarn, commented that although educational institutions are collaborating with various security forces, they do not receive feedback from authorities to enhance the devices.
A team led by a lecturer from the Sripatum University's Faculty of Engineering, Petch Nantivatana, had successfully developed a landmine identification robot in 2003. Petch stated that the team was not given an opportunity to develop the robot to be used in real life.
Source: http://www.kmutt.ac.th/