Latest news with #HTX
CNA
5 days ago
- Health
- CNA
Humanoid robots to assist Home Team frontliners by mid-2027, says Singapore's HTX
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) is looking to give Home Team officers an extra hand by mid-2027 with the help of humanoid robots. These robots will be deployed in high-risk situations like fighting fires, helping out in post-disaster search and rescue operations, and handling hazardous materials. HTX is aiming for them to be remotely controlled by 2027 and then operate autonomously by 2029 with the help of AI. Some of these robots, which are currently undergoing trials, were exhibited at the opening of HTX's AI TechXplore event that began on Monday (May 26). The agency was showcasing its latest projects as well as research and development (R&D) work in the AI field. "This initiative marks a fundamental shift in the development of robotics capabilities in the Home Team – from today's pre-programmed systems to tomorrow's GenAI-powered intelligent platforms that can move, think, and act autonomously to protect and save lives," said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who spoke at the event. HTX also launched a new S$100 million (US$78 million) robotic research facility that will focus on developing humanoid robotic capabilities of the Home Team. The facility, known as the Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre (H2RC), will be up and running by next year, according to the agency. It is designed to provide specialised settings for training and validating AI-enabled robots that will take over high-risk tasks from humans. ADOPTION OF ROBOTICS Professor Louis Phee, vice president of innovation and entrepreneurship at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), said that while humanoid robots will be assigned with the riskier tasks in missions such as firefighting, existing challenges in hardware and software need to be overcome. Such tasks require smooth movements in the robots' hardware, as well as the use of large language models trained in the Singapore context, he added. This will allow a robot to properly communicate with other humanoid robots and human beings, Prof Phee told CNA's Singapore Tonight programme. "Imagine if you buy a robotic system from Europe, that robotic system may not be able to understand how Singaporean(s) speak. But with our own … specific Singaporean large language models … that's where the humans and the humanlike robots can better connect and understand each other," he added. He said widespread integration of humanoid robots into daily life requires a delicate balance between giving such robots full autonomy and ensuring the safety of humans. When asked how ready Singapore's society is to accept such robots, he pointed to the country's manpower shortage and how it embraces technology. He compared it to the field of surgical robotics where attitudes have shifted from patients demanding a human surgeon years ago, to patients now preferring a robot due to higher accuracy. "So, it will take time," he added. USING AI TO BOOST EFFICIENCY Apart from robotic assistance, HTX said it will also look at more than 300 AI use cases that help streamline communication and workflows for responders, with the first to be operational as early as the end of the year. One tool that reduces the risks to first responders is an AI system that will take real-time audio and video recordings of a crisis, such as a fire. The system will then use AI to provide analysis and recommendations for teams that are enroute to the incident, speeding up response times. HTX said this analysis tool could potentially boost first responders' productivity by 30 per cent. The agency also announced that Home Team officers will have access to an AI chatbot that runs on a localised language learning model (LLM). The AI chatbot, called Phoenix, has been trained by HTX's partner Mistral AI on knowledge specific and relevant to Singapore's local context, as well as 10 major languages spoken in Singapore, such as Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu and Tamil. "It understands things like our terminology, our hierarchy, our internal SOPs (standard operating procedures) and laws and rules," said Arka Ray, lead engineer at HTX's Q Team. "And all of these things are conveyed naturally by the training that we do so that the officer can just do what they need to do best, which is the analysis," she added. She said this allows Home Team officers to get more accurate responses from the chatbot, compared to other LLMs that have not been trained on relevant local data. The agency will progressively deploy Phoenix to Home Team officers, and as an application programming interface (API) for AI developers to build operational applications.
CNA
6 days ago
- Science
- CNA
S$100m pumped into new robotic research facility by HTX
Robots could soon help frontliners fight fires and conduct search and rescue missions around the world. Behind that is a new S$100 million research centre that will be up and running by next year. The Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) will also look at more than 300 use cases to help responders deal with threats faster, with the first operationalised as early as end of the year. Professor Louis Phee, Vice President (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) at NTU Singapore, shares how he views this idea of humanoid robots doing dangerous jobs in society such as fire-fighting. He also explores what more can be done in the use of humanoid technology.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Home Team humanoid robots to be deployed by mid-2027, $100m to be invested: Josephine Teo
The humanoid robots will perform high-risk tasks such as firefighting, hazmat operations, and search and rescue missions. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Home Team humanoid robots to be deployed by mid-2027, $100m to be invested: Josephine Teo SINGAPORE – Home Team officers will work together with their robot counterparts when the latter are deployed as soon as by mid-2027. The humanoid robots will perform high-risk tasks such as firefighting, hazardous materials (hazmat) operations, and search and rescue missions. Initially, the robots will be controlled remotely by human operators, but are expected to be powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and deployed autonomously from 2029. During autonomous deployment, AI will allow the machines to respond to different scenarios, with humans supervising and intervening only when necessary. On May 26, four of these robots, which are being developed by the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), were showcased at the opening of the AI TechXplore exhibition. The two-day science and technology exhibition, held at Fusionopolis One, highlights HTX's efforts to leverage AI to enhance Home Team operations. The exhibition was held alongside the HTX career fair, Careers@HTX. Three of the robots on display are about 1.7m tall, while the fourth is half a metre shorter. HTX engineers built an exo-suit for operators to wear to control the smaller robot. Information from the exo-suit is transmitted to the robot, allowing it to replicate the operator's movements in real time. The operator also wears a virtual reality headset that allows him or her 'to see' through the robot's cameras to perform various tasks . The event also saw the launch of Phoenix, HTX's large language model that was trained in-house and is familiar with the Singapore and Home Team context, and conversant in all four official languages in Singapore . Phoenix will be the brain of the Home Team's AI capabilities. Speaking at the event, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said $100 million will be invested in the new Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre (H2RC), which will be dedicated to developing humanoid robots intended for public safety. It is the first such facility in the world, and is slated to become operational by mid-2026. It will feature zones for data collection, AI model training and robotics development, and will house high-performance computing resources. Mrs Teo said: 'Criminals are exploiting technology in ways never before imagined. As a result, law enforcement agencies, too, must understand how the technologies are being misused. 'But that on its own is not going to be enough. We must also have the capabilities to use the technology to fight crime, to do better for our people. ' The minister added that H2RC will push the frontiers of AI. She said: 'This initiative marks a fundamental shift in the development of robotics capabilities in the Home Team – from today's pre-programmed systems to tomorrow's Gen AI-powered intelligent platforms that can move, think, and act autonomously to protect and save lives.' Mr Ang Chee Wee, chief AI officer and assistant chief executive for digital and enterprise at HTX, said the facility is a significant step forward for HTX's AI strategy, as advances in robotics open up new possibilities for front-line support. He said: 'By putting humanoid robots in realistic environments, we can evaluate how AI can complement our officers, enhance safety, and support the long-term operational needs of the Home Team.' The Home Team has used multiple robots over the years, with one of the earliest iterations of a patrol robot being used at large-scale events in 2018. The pace of development and deployment quickened after the formation of HTX in end-2019, which helped develop the Rover-X robotic dog and the more recent cyborg cockroaches sent to Myanmar to assist in search and rescue efforts after an earthquake. Drones are now also a common sight at large public events such as the recent political rallies, and help with both crowd control and other police operations. The advent of humanoid robots looks set to further shape the security scene in Singapore, with security provider Certis announcing on May 19 that it, too, has received its first humanoid robot. Dr Daniel Teo, director of the Robotics, Automation and Unmanned Systems Centre of Expertise at HTX, said he is looking forward to further harnessing the potential of robots for the Home Team. He said: 'Public safety operations require robotic systems that are adaptable and resilient. These AI-driven robots have a huge potential to enhance the safety and effectiveness of front-line officers.' David Sun is The Straits Times' crime correspondent. He has a background in criminology and is a licensed private investigator. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Singapore's Home Team humanoid robots to be deployed by mid-2027, RM330mil to be invested, says information minister
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Singapore's Home Team officers will work together with their robot counterparts when the latter are deployed as soon as by mid-2027. The humanoid robots will perform high-risk tasks such as firefighting, hazardous materials (hazmat) operations, and search-and-rescue missions. Initially, the robots will be controlled remotely by human operators, but are expected to be powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and deployed autonomously from 2029. During autonomous deployment, AI will allow the machines to respond to different scenarios, with humans supervising and intervening only when necessary. On May 26, four of these robots, which are being developed by the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), were showcased at the opening of the AI TechXplore exhibition. The two-day science and technology exhibition, held at Fusionopolis One, highlights HTX's efforts to leverage AI to enhance Home Team operations. The exhibition was held alongside the HTX career fair, Careers@HTX. Three of the robots on display are about 1.7m tall, while the fourth is half a metre shorter. HTX engineers built an exo-suit for operators to wear to control the smaller robot. Information from the exo-suit is transmitted to the robot, allowing it to replicate the operator's movements in real time. The operator also wears a virtual reality headset that allows him or her 'to see' through the robot's cameras to perform various tasks. The event also saw the launch of Phoenix, HTX's large language model (LLM) that was trained in-house and is familiar with the Singaporean and Home Team context, conversant in all four official languages in Singapore. Phoenix will be the brain of the Home Team's AI capabilities. Speaking at the event, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said S$100m (RM330 million) will be invested into the new Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre (H2RC), which will be dedicated to developing humanoid robots intended for public safety. It is the first such facility in the world, and is slated to become operational by mid-2026. It will feature zones for data collection, AI model training and robotics development, and will house high-performance computing resources. Teo said: 'Criminals are exploiting technology in ways never before imagined. As a result, law enforcement agencies, too, must understand how the technologies are being misused. 'But that on its own is not going to be enough. We must also have the capabilities to use the technology to fight crime, to do better for our people.' The minister added that H2RC will push the frontiers of AI. She said: 'This initiative marks a fundamental shift in the development of robotics capabilities in the Home Team – from today's pre-programmed systems to tomorrow's Gen AI-powered intelligent platforms that can move, think, and act autonomously to protect and save lives.' Ang Chee Wee, chief AI officer and assistant chief executive (digital and enterprise) at HTX, said the facility is a significant step forward for HTX's AI strategy, as advances in robotics open up new possibilities for front-line support. He said: 'By putting humanoid robots in realistic environments, we can evaluate how AI can complement our officers, enhance safety, and support the long-term operational needs of the Home Team.' The Home Team has used multiple robots over the years, with one of the earliest iterations of a patrol robot being used at large-scale events in 2018. The pace of development and deployment quickened after the formation of HTX in end-2019, which helped develop the Rover-X robotic dog and the more recent cyborg cockroaches sent to Myanmar to assist in search-and-rescue efforts. Drones are now also a common sight at large public events such as the recent political rallies, and help with both crowd control and other police operations. The advent of humanoid robots looks set to further shape the security scene in Singapore, with security provider Certis announcing on May 19 that it, too, has received its first humanoid robot. Dr Daniel Teo, director of the Robotics, Automation and Unmanned Systems Centre of Expertise at HTX, said he was looking forward to further harnessing the potential of robots for the Home Team. He said: 'Public safety operations require robotic systems that are adaptable and resilient. These AI-driven robots have a huge potential to enhance the safety and effectiveness of front-line officers.' - The Straits Times/ANN
AsiaOne
6 days ago
- Science
- AsiaOne
Home Team humanoid robots to be deployed by mid-2027, $100m to be invested: Josephine Teo, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — Home Team officers will work together with their robot counterparts when the latter are deployed as soon as by mid-2027. The humanoid robots will perform high-risk tasks such as firefighting, hazardous materials (hazmat) operations, and search-and-rescue missions. Initially, the robots will be controlled remotely by human operators, but are expected to be powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and deployed autonomously from 2029. During autonomous deployment, AI will allow the machines to respond to different scenarios, with humans supervising and intervening only when necessary. On May 26, four of these robots, which are being developed by the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), were showcased at the opening of the AI TechXplore exhibition. The two-day science and technology exhibition, held at Fusionopolis One, highlights HTX's efforts to leverage AI to enhance Home Team operations. The exhibition was held alongside the HTX career fair, Careers@HTX. Three of the robots on display are about 1.7m-tall, while the fourth is half a metre shorter. HTX engineers built an exo-suit for operators to wear to control the smaller robot. Information from the exo-suit is transmitted to the robot, allowing it to replicate the operator's movements in real time. The operator also wears a virtual reality headset that allows him or her "to see" through the robot's cameras to perform various tasks. The event also saw the launch of Phoenix, HTX's large language model (LLM) that was trained in-house and is familiar with the Singaporean and Home Team context, conversant in all four official languages in Singapore. Phoenix will be the brain of the Home Team's AI capabilities. Speaking at the event, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said $100m will be invested into the new Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre (H2RC), which will be dedicated to developing humanoid robots intended for public safety. It is the first such facility in the world, and is slated to become operational by mid-2026. It will feature zones for data collection, AI model training and robotics development, and will house high-performance computing resources. Teo said: "Criminals are exploiting technology in ways never before imagined. As a result, law enforcement agencies, too, must understand how the technologies are being misused. "But that on its own is not going to be enough. We must also have the capabilities to use the technology to fight crime, to do better for our people." The minister added that H2RC will push the frontiers of AI. She said: "This initiative marks a fundamental shift in the development of robotics capabilities in the Home Team — from today's pre-programmed systems to tomorrow's Gen AI-powered intelligent platforms that can move, think, and act autonomously to protect and save lives." Ang Chee Wee, Chief AI Officer and Assistant Chief Executive (Digital and Enterprise) at HTX, said the facility is a significant step forward for HTX's AI strategy, as advances in robotics open up new possibilities for frontline support. He said: "By putting humanoid robots in realistic environments, we can evaluate how AI can complement our officers, enhance safety, and support the long-term operational needs of the Home Team." The Home Team has used multiple robots over the years, with one of the earliest iterations of a patrol robot being used at large-scale events in 2018. The pace of development and deployment quickened after the formation of HTX in end-2019, which helped develop the Rover-X robotic dog and the more recent cyborg cockroaches sent to Myanmar to assist in search-and-rescue efforts. Drones are now also a common sight at large public events such as the recent political rallies, and help with both crowd control and other police operations. The advent of humanoid robots looks set to further shape the security scene in Singapore, with security provider Certis announcing on May 19 that it too has received its first humanoid robot. Dr Daniel Teo, director of Robotics, Automation and Unmanned Systems Centre of Expertise at HTX, said he was looking forward to further harnessing the potential of robots for the Home Team. He said: "Public safety operations require robotic systems that are adaptable and resilient. These AI-driven robots have a huge potential to enhance the safety and effectiveness of frontline officers." [[nid:718333]] This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
