By: Anna Lococo
First-year student Firstene Arvhie Badua started research for his innovative fire detector at age 12.
Badua has received funding from Bellarmine University to further his research of the Affordable and Effective Texting Fire Detector (AETFD). This invention not only works as a traditional fire detector - making loud noises and flashing lights - but it sends text alerts as well.
“I started it in the Philippines in 2018 and continued developing till Covid hit, but now since I got the opportunity to continue it, I am developing it right now,” he said. “I am planning to publish it during my doctorate, but it might be before I graduate here at Bellarmine.”
In the Philippines, fires and power outages are very common and many of lives are lost each year. This also causes billions of dollars of property damage. Badua’s invention, powered by a portable battery, allows homeowners in the Philippines to be aware of thermal changes and/or gas leaks that could cause a fire. The AETFD can push a text to multiple phone numbers, warning the residents and neighbors of the danger.
Badua’s research has been published in science journals in the Philippines and in Canada. His invention received a gold medal in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, at the International Invention and Design Exposition in 2018. He also received a silver medal in Toronto, Ontarro, Canada at the International Invention Innovation Competition in 2020.
“These awards motivated me to keep continuing my research,” he said. “I also want to give thanks to the people who helped me with the award-winning research.”
Badua has many people helping with the production of his invention. A Philippine engineer, Jose Noel Florendo, helps assemble the detector. Dr. Akhtar Mahmood, Bellarmine program chair for physics, is helping him fund the parts for the next prototype.
“I am very impressed with Firstene’s initiative at Bellarmine,” Mahmood said. “He just started as a freshman, but as I’ve noticed he is eager to get started on a project.”
Badua said he plans to use his knowledge of physics in the space program. “I am planning to be an astrophysicist in NASA, and I want to help the research for space stuff,” he said.
Bellarmine first-year student Jack Proctor said: “I think Firstene’s friends and family motivate him to achieve his goals and aspirations. I see the AETFD helping a lot of people and potentially saving a lot of people in dangerous situations.”
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