Thursday, December 6, 2018

Robots may soon guard MRT stations, bus interchanges

Source Website: https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/robots-may-soon-guard-mrt-stations-bus-interchanges
By Zhaki Abdullah, The New Paper, 06 December 2018 at 06:00 am


The LTA deployed the robot yesterday to test its surveillance capabilities.
PHOTO: The LTA deployed the robot yesterday to test its surveillance capabilities. The robot is equipped with cameras for 360-degrees surveillance.
TNP Photo: Kelvin Chng
Picture from Facebook / Land Transport Authority
Picture posted by Sean Lim, Business Insider Singapore on 06 December 2018
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https://static.businessinsider.sg/sites/2/2018/12/LTArobot3.jpg
https://www.businessinsider.sg/this-photo-of-a-robot-roaming-an-mrt-station-shows-what-the-future-of-singapores-transport-hubs-could-be-like/


That watchful figure helping guard your MRT station or bus interchange may soon be a robot.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) confirmed this after deploying one such robot at the Hougang MRT station yesterday to test its navigational and surveillance capabilities.

"The use of unmanned robots could potentially complement the deployment of security officers in the future," said the LTA.


The robot deployed by LTA during Exercise Station Guard at Hougang MRT station yesterday.
PHOTO: The robot deployed by LTA during Exercise Station Guard at Hougang MRT station yesterday. Developed by ST Engineering, it is equipped with seven cameras to give it a 360-degree view, and has GPS and other sensors. The robot's control console was located within a nearby incident response vehicle.
ST Photo: Kelvin Chng
Picture posted by Zhaki Abdullah, The Straits Times on 06 December 2018
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLKULWRoeD91eYmlAKzqXcH_u91LSoPv3YkodwajtECkQIr-Wtxmk6GhgcpvMnNb3fIbomPr6b_IPDeNLc1uqAvDU93yuxOwiYFC3Fk_z3dFZxsqUnbPQSgb6DGr10A-XUzsnhb8NUr0/s1600/ST_20181206_AZHOUGANG06S8HW_4463156.jpg
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/robots-could-be-rolled-out-for-security-patrols-at-mrt-stations


Developed by ST Engineering, the 1.6m-tall robot was equipped with seven cameras to allow it a 360-degree view of its surroundings. It was equipped with an in-built global positioning system (GPS) as well as sensors such as lidar (a detection system which works on the principle of radar, but uses light from a laser), which bounces lasers off objects, allow it to patrol designated areas.

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
In future, it could even come with video and audio analytics technology, the LTA said.

"Through today's exercise, we will assess its potential to complement on-site surveillance needed for public transport incident management," said the LTA's public transport security deputy director Joseph Goh.


An autonomous robot kept an eye on Hougang MRT station yesterday as part of Exercise Station Guard, an emergency preparedness exercise by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
PHOTO: An autonomous robot kept an eye on Hougang MRT station yesterday as part of Exercise Station Guard, an emergency preparedness exercise by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The 1.6m-tall robot, developed by ST Engineering, was being tested for its navigational and surveillance capabilities. It is equipped with seven cameras that give it a 360-degree view of its environment as it patrols a preset path.
Such unmanned robots could complement the deployment of security officers at public transport nodes in the future, said LTA. As part of yesterday's exercise, commuters at the station had to go through additional security screenings such as walking through a metal detector and putting their belongings in an X-ray scanner.
ST Photo: Kelvin Chng
Picture posted by Zhaki Abdullah, The Straits Times on 06 December 2018
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n8KLcUUsmCJcGI4zlN2KFNvVYXLrOjC7bTODPRP9bEDn0RXqtkzmZjqhGAxQ9KovsT76P1f8si0CRWdD062Vle1bUxB7D4yLWClWzASvgl9rSfzTlWZWRQrrm6gQrNpeJWubL6_yoMY/s1600/ST_20181206_P1AZHOUGANG06_4463153.jpg
https://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/articles/2018/12/06/ST_20181206_P1AZHOUGANG06_4463153.jpg
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/robots-could-be-rolled-out-for-security-patrols-at-mrt-stations


A similar robot was also deployed by the Singapore Police Force to patrol the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre during the 33rd Asean Summit last month.

The control console for the LTA's robot was located within a nearby incident response vehicle that was equipped with telecommunications equipment and a camera system.


Operator Tay Quan Jie, 26, monitoring the situation in the LTA's incident response vehicle, which can transmit live footage from the robot to the LTA headquarters.
PHOTO: Operator Tay Quan Jie, 26, monitoring the situation in the LTA's incident response vehicle, which can transmit live footage from the robot to the LTA headquarters.
ST Photo: Kelvin Chng
Picture posted by Zhaki Abdullah, The Straits Times on 06 December 2018
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wXArLAsyuZrvaKv3mJRwXIY3YTRmeQ5LqsrtACYnOOx9Im9j3iVpBy6JLd6XfuwMEHa8d-C_5YEzrlb5OSgGpkanoS6_kcsB3y4Vx1tmqomMVcG0T-XlM0E58o3UgdcukyftTR874jA/s1600/ST_20181206_AZHOUGANG06_4463155.jpg
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/robots-could-be-rolled-out-for-security-patrols-at-mrt-stations


This can transmit live footage to a the LTA's Land Transport Operations Centre at its Hampshire Road headquarters.

Yesterday, the robot did duty at an emergency preparedness exercise dubbed Exercise Station Guard, where commuters had to go through metal detectors and pass their belongings through X-ray scanners.


A robot was deployed to patrol Hougang MRT station on 05 December 2018.
PHOTO: A robot was deployed to patrol Hougang MRT station on 05 December 2018. This photo of a robot roaming an MRT station shows what the future of Singapore’s transport hubs could be like.
Picture from Facebook / Land Transport Authority
Picture posted by Sean Lim, Business Insider Singapore on 06 December 2018
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQChyphenhyphenW0kUELSZXShpSW1sFJKa5qc6GEVsqFYDK89NECEnyH79_aFsv5glJfK9opQFpZXn2IaZSEfkgQLiykfO6g4aiiBkrs8LyAs3RmSmcCj2kBCLcKMnTOoysVUH8uqYnGXeHaFNFpT8/s1600/LTArobot.jpg
https://static.businessinsider.sg/sites/2/2018/12/LTArobot.jpg
https://www.businessinsider.sg/this-photo-of-a-robot-roaming-an-mrt-station-shows-what-the-future-of-singapores-transport-hubs-could-be-like/


It was the third such operation by the LTA this year.

Earlier exercises were conducted at the Newton station in February, and the Holland Village station in July.

Transport nodes remain "attractive" targets to terrorists, said Dr Rohan Gunaratna, who heads the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

"What is essential is not only to train security personnel but non-security staff serving MRT stations to detect suspicious activity. Working with commuters to raise public awareness is paramount," he said.


LTA is exploring the use of robotics to potentially complement the deployment of security officers in the future.
PHOTO: "#HaveYouSeen a roving robot patrolling outside Hougang MRT Station today? Equipped with 360-degrees surveillance, sensors and in-built GPS, the robot can enhance our security measures at public transport nodes."
Posted by Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving (from Facebook) on 05 December 2018
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By Zhaki Abdullah, The New Paper, 06 December 2018 at 06:00 am
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Reference
[1] Zhaki Abdullah, The New Paper, Robots may soon guard MRT stations, bus interchanges, posted on 06 December 2018 at 06:00 am, https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/robots-may-soon-guard-mrt-stations-bus-interchanges


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