Singapore deploys robot dogs for patrol, security, guiding blind people

They have found no shortage of work, taking on jobs at underground maintenance areas and construction sites and even in community care.

During the Covid pandemic a robot dog named Spot was deployed as a safe distancing watchdog in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. It was also assigned to the Changi Exhibition Centre community isolation facility, where it delivered medicines to patients. More recently another robot dog made headlines after accompanying Progress Singapore Party candidate Tony Tan on a walkabout during his election campaign.

Many other manufacturers have developed their own versions of the Covid watchdog Spot for use in environments considered too hazardous for humans.

In Singapore, National Robotics Programme deputy director Chan U-Gene says more and more companies are adopting robot dogs for surveillance and inspection tasks. Their legged design makes them more mobile and adaptable to outdoor terrain and staircases than traditional wheeled robots, he adds.

The growing market has reduced costs enormously. While Boston Dynamics originally priced its units at US$75,000, newer models from Chinese manufacturers now cost as little as $2,700.

One notable initiative underway at the National University of Singapore trains robots as guide dogs for the visually impaired. Robotics PhD student Cai Shaojun at its Smart Systems Institute explains that, unlike real dogs, the robots can be programmed to follow complex commands, such as guiding users to a supermarket or train station. Machines are also cheaper than real guide dogs, he points out.

His team has tested robot guide dogs with a dozen visually impaired users and is working to improve their ability to climb stairs and navigate complex terrain. A pilot program is expected to launch at transport hubs and parks by 2025.

Robot dogs are also being deployed for security. Since September 2024 Mars, a robot developed by SBS Transit in partnership with Weston Robot, has been patrolling the perimeter of Seletar Bus Depot. Equipped with high-definition cameras, thermal imaging and other sensors, Mars detects intruders and signs of tampering, and security officers can monitor its movements remotely.

"Mars’s four-legged mobility enables it to easily navigate grass patches, road kerbs, drains and staircases within the depot environment," SBS Transit spokeswoman Grace Wu, says. "The pilot results have been promising, and we are studying the feasibility of extending its use to other depots."

Robot dogs are also taking on high-risk inspection work. SPock, deployed by electricity and gas distributor SP Group, accompanies inspectors into underground tunnels, covering up to six kilometers to identify anomalies like cracks and dampness. With a range of sensors, SPock can detect issues invisible to the human eye and reduces workers’ exposure to hazardous conditions.

At Sengkang MRT Depot in Singapore, SBS Transit has also deployed Avatar, a robot dog used since July 2024 to inspect train undercarriages. It checks for open panels, loose oil tank caps and air leakages, tasks that are time-consuming and physically hard for technicians. Avatar’s design allows it to maneuver beneath carriages and climb stairs to inspect train interiors. It is being further tweaked to detect more faults such as broken lights and damaged handles.