In 2023, after government support for 5G initiatives in Singapore, anticipate seeing robots policing the streets, cleaning rivers, and manufacturing automobiles.
A $30 million fund that the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) established in 2021 to hasten the adoption and commercialization of 5G solutions financed the three initiatives. So far, funding under the program went to a total of seven 5G projects.
The program is one of two funding rounds from IMDA to encourage the expansion of 5G. In support of more than a dozen projects, including the construction of Singapore’s largest 5G smart estate and autonomous transportation systems, IMDA has allocated at least S$70 million in total.
According to Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary, these investments are meant to encourage businesses to use the local 5G network.
He continued by saying that outdoor coverage on Singapore’s first two 5G standalone networks has reached 95% of the country.
Robotic vessel for cleaning rivers
In collaboration with Weston Robot, unmanned electric boats will be utilized to clean and examine rivers.
Dr. Janil claimed that 5G technology enables video analytics, high data transfers, and emergency response capabilities, enabling electric boats to find and remove trash even when it is outside of their programmed paths.
The initiative, which starts in August, will act as a proving ground for the introduction of comparable vessels for garbage identification in other areas of the region.
They will be a more environmentally friendly option than petrol-powered boats, which may emit up to 20 tonnes of carbon annually and can be maintained for up to S$12,000 per year.
According to IMDA, electric boats will progressively replace the gasoline-powered ones currently used to clean water bodies. Each electric boat can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80%. The electric boat comes with a garbage-picking device installed on the side of the boat.
The amount previously invested in the current line-up of boats, according to IMDA, prevents their prompt replacement.
According to IMDA, the autonomous vessels also free up boatmen from long days spent in the sun and lessen the chance that men may fall overboard. As a single operator stationed at the command center can now operate many electric vessels, this will change the nature of the job scope.
April will bring more details about the ships, according to IMDA.
Auto-building robots
In order to move materials for producing electric vehicles, at least 100 5G-capable robots will be set up on the factory floor of the planned Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre in Singapore (HMGICS).
According to Dr. Janil, 5G will make it possible for bots and the automated control system to communicate seamlessly in real-time, increasing productivity and quality assurance.
According to IMDA, hundreds of robots would be in continual communication, coordinating the movement of materials during the vehicle manufacturing process. Because of 5G’s reliability, messages won’t be “lost in route,” which might otherwise result in unwelcome manufacturing process delays.
Also, the robots will lighten the workload for employees at HMGICS, which will be based in Jurong West and open in 2023. By 2025, the facility hopes to produce up to 30,000 vehicles annually.
The undertaking will pave the way for Hyundai’s planned “built-to-order” vehicles, which will allow buyers to individually tailor recently ordered automobiles to their demands.
Bots on the prowl
In order to address the lack of security personnel in South Beach, which can make it challenging for agencies to respond to security breaches, surveillance robots are being tested there and will be implemented there in May. These robots will monitor both indoor and outdoor events.
The sentry robot and small patrol car-shaped robots are more maneuverable than the commonplace fixed surveillance cameras.
With the help of video analytics, which will notify security personnel when a threat is identified, security officials will be able to remotely monitor a number of places. According to IMDA, officials can even command the robots remotely when necessary. – Asia News Network/The Straits Times (Singapore)
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