Singapore's Home Team could have humanoid robots working alongside officers in real-world operations by 2028, taking on routine, physically demanding and dangerous tasks.
Announced by the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), the Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre (H2RC), a new 29,000 sq ft facility launched on Wednesday (Sept 30), will serve as a testbed for developing and training AI-powered humanoid robots for public safety operations.
The centre was launched by Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong, who said technology is increasingly important as Singapore faces manpower constraints and a more complex operating environment.
Speaking at the launch, Tong said Singapore's ageing workforce and limited manpower pool meant the Home Team "cannot solve this with sheer numbers alone".
He added that the country's dense, high-rise and increasingly underground environment also means emergencies can unfold in tight spaces with little margin for error.
"Technology must be an integral part of the answer," he said, describing it as a necessary "force multiplier" for the Home Team.
The humanoid robots are being developed to work in environments designed for humans, allowing them to potentially use existing tools and navigate spaces without requiring major changes to the surroundings.
One potential application is responding to hazardous materials incidents.
Currently, HazMat officers may have to enter a chemical leak site to take samples and shut valves. In future, a humanoid robot could identify the source and help contain the spill, reducing officers' exposure to dangerous substances.
The robots are also being explored for forensic investigations following explosions.
Instead of forensic officers entering unstable debris where there could be a risk of a secondary device or structural collapse, humanoids could potentially be used to recover evidence.
Other applications include conducting routine prison cell searches and yard checks, freeing officers to focus on inmate engagement and rehabilitation.
Tong stressed that the aim is not to replace Home Team officers.
"The robot takes on the routine, physically demanding, or dangerous work," he said.
"Our officers focus on the work that calls for empathy, judgement, and leadership."
He said the goal is to augment officers, not replace them, allowing them to perform their duties more safely and effectively.
H2RC is the first centre of its kind dedicated specifically to humanoid robotics for public safety, according to HTX.
The centre will serve as a testbed and collaboration platform where Home Team departments, industry partners, universities and research institutions can develop and test robotics solutions.
Its facilities include physical mock-ups of public safety environments, as well as systems for motion capture, teleoperation, human demonstrations and simulation to generate training data.
The centre will focus on "Embodied AI", which allows robots to learn, perceive, reason and act in real-world environments.
HTX said commercial humanoid robot development is largely focused on manufacturing, industrial automation and household applications.
However, robots trained for factory floors would not necessarily know how to operate safely at an incident scene.
H2RC will therefore use public safety data and realistic operational environments to develop capabilities tailored to the Home Team's needs.
HTX said the development of humanoid robots will take place progressively, beginning with capability development before moving towards trials and validation.
Before any operational deployment, the systems will undergo testing to ensure they are cyber-secure, reliable and suitable for operational use.
The first humanoid robot is targeted to work alongside Home Team officers in a real operational setting, carrying out defined tasks safely and reliably, by 2028.
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