Lianhe Zaobao, 机器人助力环境检测维护 显著提高安全与效率

(Translation)

Climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather events are placing greater strain on environmental infrastructure, making inspections and maintenance of facilities such as drains and roofs more frequent. If these time-consuming, labour-intensive tasks, often considered “dirty and dangerous” jobs, can be carried out by robots, it would not only improve efficiency significantly but also enhance worker safety.

Singapore’s public sewer system stretches approximately 3,600 kilometers, with an additional 100,000 roadside gullies. These facilities require regular inspection and maintenance. Researchers at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) have developed a robot named “Iguana,” which can navigate narrow sewers like a remote-controlled vehicle. Equipped with a camera system, it streams live video footage of the sewers, enabling operators to remotely inspect the infrastructure.

In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Professor Mohan Rajesh Elara from the SUTD’s Engineering Product Development pillar said that the industry currently relies mainly on cable-connected cameras to inspect narrow drains and sewers. However, these systems are difficult to manoeuvre and can easily become obstructed by debris within the sewers.

He said, “The robot we designed can be controlled much more effectively, like remote-controlled vehicle. Operators can view the footage captured by the onboard camera in real time, which can improve inspection efficiency by at least 30%. The recorded footage can also be analysed using artificial intelligence to detect potential problems in the drainage system early.”

Developing robots to address challenges in the facilities management industry

Unveiled at the end of last year, Iguana was developed by SUTD to address pain points in the facilities management industry. This is not the team’s first foray into the field of facilities inspection. Previously, the researchers had developed a robot that could enter ceiling plenum to detect water leakages and rodent infestations , as well as another robot that could detect mosquito breeding and dispense larvicide.

Prof Mohan said that when pest control workers inspect the ceiling plenum for rodent activity, they have to use ladders, yet they are often unable to see every dark and confined corner inside the plenum. A robot, on the other hand, can enter the plenum to capture video footage, improving both the efficiency of the inspection and work safety.

The team has developed a series of robots that share a common core platform, with different attachments added according to the needs of each inspection task. Prof Mohan believes that with climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, the demand for infrastructure inspection will continue to grow, and robots can serve as valuable assistants to workers rather than replacing them.

He added that the team’s research and development work received partial funding from Singapore’s National Robotics Programme. SUTD also received support from the Workplace Safety and Health Council , which has provided opportunities for the university to showcase their robotic solutions at industry events, helping to raise awareness among potential users.

The robots developed by the team were manufactured by Kim Yew Pte Ltd, a local facilities management company. The collaboration began when SUTD worked with the company to develop solutions for operational challenges encountered in its day-to-day operations. Subsequently, Kim Yew gradually expanded its business beyond facilities management, into the production of practical robots designed for a broader range of industry applications.

Mr Patrick Tan, Managing Director of Kim Yew, said that the company’s operations department works closely with the development team to improve and optimise the robots based on real-world needs. Today, these robots are used not only within the company’s own operations but have also been adopted by other organisations. The collaboration with SUTD has strengthened the company’s capabilities and reputation while enabling it to provide effective technological solutions to clients, benefiting the wider building and facilities management sector.

He said, “Robots have reduced the time required for routine inspections, allowing us to redeploy our workforce to higher-value-added roles, such as data analysis and customer service. More importantly, the quality of the data collected has improved, resulting in more consistent inspection outcomes.”