From the cyborg assassins in the Terminator movie series to the endearing humanoid C-3P0 in the space opera franchise Star Wars, popular representations of robots often imbue them with intelligence that mirrors or supplants that of humans.
The reality for now and the near future, at least, is far different. Robots, while becoming increasingly sophisticated, are nowhere near gaining the kind of autonomy they have in science fiction movies.
In the field of robotics and artificial intelligence, A*STAR Chief Executive Officer Frederick Chew sees, instead, a “man-machine partnership environment” arising from robot-assisted work.
“I don’t believe that robots will replace humans fully, at least not in the next 50 years.”
That does not mean that he discounts advancements in robotics. As he says: “Robots today are getting very smart and capable.” Over the years, a focus of A*STAR’s work has been on applying robotics intelligence to everyday operations in the Public Service.
Besides robotics, A*STAR is active in other fields such as 3-D modelling for urban development. Computer simulations can help urban planners account for environmental effects on buildings.
Strengthening partnerships
For all of these technologies to flourish, another partnership is crucial: the one between public agencies. Mr Chew, who concurrently holds the title of Chief, Public Sector Science & Technology Policy and Plans Office, is working with government agencies to strengthen science and technology (S&T) across the public sector.
To achieve this, he encourages public agencies to engage in long-term collaborations with A*STAR to deepen their S&T capabilities, so that the technologies can be better translated to improve the lives of Singaporeans.
“Traditionally, agencies encountering a problem would see if the institutes of higher learning (IHLs) or A*STAR could solve it – a somewhat one-off approach,” says Mr Chew.
What is needed, he adds, is a better match between the supply of technologies coming from the IHLs or A*STAR, and the demand or needs of the public agencies.
“This requires design thinking to permeate into our traditional ‘research to innovation to enterprise’ constructs, particularly for the technology suppliers to begin with the end in mind – the end being to solve national challenges and to impact our citizens, society and economy,” says Mr Chew.
Mr Chew has charged A*STAR’s scientists with this same mission. A*STAR’s scientists are increasingly working more closely with public officers from different organisations to come up with technological solutions that meet specific operational needs.
Here are three projects where A*STAR’s technologies have brought people, robots and computer simulations together to enhance the way people live and work.
Urban cooling
In construction, by the time the scaffolding is raised and concrete is poured, it is too late to make any drastic changes to adapt a building to its environmental conditions.
To avert such a scenario, A*STAR worked with the Housing Development Board (HDB) to create the Integrated Environmental Modeller (IEM) for urban planning. It was adopted in the planning of the new Tengah town to build a comfortable living environment.
Through this technology, urban planners can simulate the effects of environmental factors on urban developments, such as solar heat, wind flow and air temperature. Based on this information, open spaces and building layouts can be designed and oriented such that wind flows provide natural ventilation within Tengah.
The team behind the IEM, led by senior scientist Poh Hee Joo from A*STAR, was awarded the prestigious President’s Technology Award in October 2019.