Humanoids to tackle bomb scenes, hazmat threats and prison searches

Singapore plans to deploy AI-powered humanoid robots alongside public safety officers by 2028, expanding the use of robotics in police and prison operations. The robots are expected to assist with hazardous-material response, blast investigations, prison searches and other tasks that could put human personnel at risk. The initiative was announced as Singapore opened the Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre (H2RC) in the one-north technology district on September 30. Last year, Singapore announced its plans to deploy humanoid robots alongside Home Team officers from mid-2027, assisting operations in high-risk environments. Robots aid officers The robots are being developed by the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), which launched the H2RC. The center is designed to develop and train humanoids specifically for public safety applications, with engineers using realistic environments and mock-ups to test the machines and collect training data. The humanoid design was selected because robots with a human-like form can operate in environments built for people and use tools already used by officers, without requiring major changes to existing infrastructure. A humanoid robot takes a sample of a “hazardous” chemical during a demonstration. “Our goal is clear: we aim to have the first humanoid robot working alongside Home Team officers in a real operational setting, performing defined tasks safely and reliably by 2028,” said Tan Chye Hee, Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs, as reported by Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs portal. Spanning 29,000 square feet, H2RC features mock-ups of public safety environments, including uneven post-blast scenes with debris and replicas of industrial pipes and valves for data collection and testing. The facility also houses an omnidirectional, multi-robot overhead mobility system for safer humanoid development. Used by the European Space Agency for astronaut training, the system is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. HTX said the robots are intended to augment officers by taking on routine, physically demanding or dangerous tasks. This could allow human personnel to concentrate on duties requiring judgment, empathy and discretion while reducing their exposure to hazardous situations. Boosting public safety At the center’s launch, HTX demonstrated four humanoid robots under development. One is being developed for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to handle hazardous-material containment, mitigation and sampling. The system could reduce the need for officers to enter areas containing dangerous substances. Another humanoid is being developed for the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to support post-blast investigations. Such environments can remain unstable, contaminated and dangerous after an explosion. The robot can be remotely controlled and is capable of kneeling to operate close to the ground, allowing it to collect explosive fragments and perform other investigative tasks. The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) could use humanoids to search prison cells for contraband. HTX plans to explore the use of dexterous hands, fine motor control and high-resolution tactile sensing to improve the effectiveness of such searches. Humanoids could also perform routine tasks for the SCDF, including restocking medical supplies in ambulances. HTX said the next step is to move beyond preprogrammed machines toward embodied AI systems capable of learning, perceiving, reasoning and acting in dynamic environments. The agency noted that robots trained for industrial settings may not know how to operate safely during critical public safety incidents. H2RC will therefore use real public safety data to train humanoids for these scenarios. HTX also plans to bring together industry, research and academic expertise to develop the technology. As part of the initiative, HTX and ST Engineering signed a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation in humanoid robotics and public safety applications. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.