Outdoor, all-terrain Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) will be deployed at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in the first quarter of 2025 to enhance guest experience and operational efficiency.
Complemented by tele-operations, the trial aims to showcase the robots’ capabilities in challenging outdoor environments and seamless remote management of the various AMRs at work.
Many AMRs today are designed for flat roads or concrete pavements. Customisations have therefore been made to the existing AMR models, including larger, toughened wheels to navigate diverse and rugged terrains, and weather-resistant casing to operate smoothly in adverse weather conditions.
Three specialised AMRs will be deployed to address specific operational needs. They include a:
- Concierge autonomous mobile robot, which can offer general information on services like lockers, itinerary recommendations at the wildlife parks, as well as wayfinding and way-guiding.
By leveraging its advanced human-robot interaction and crowd-sensing capabilities, the Concierge AMR can navigate crowded areas efficiently and safely lead guests from one location to another. The robot will be deployed between the Singapore Zoo entrance and the pick-up/drop-off point at the carpark during the trial.
- Delivery autonomous mobile robot, which will transport items while navigating through different terrains including slopes and pathways under different environmental conditions. The robot can adapt to dynamic environments and detect objects in real-time to deliver animal feed from the Avian Nutrition Centre to nine zones across the 17-hectare Bird Paradise, helping to free up 1,200 manhours per year.
- Surveillance autonomous mobile robot, which uses advanced sensors and cameras to aid operations and security personnel in monitoring park grounds. It can patrol diverse terrains with live camera feed and alert the teams to unidentified objects, complementing existing efforts to ensure a safe environment for guests and staff.
In particular, it can detect and differentiate human silhouettes from objects through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors. The data collected by the robot will enhance oversight and improve incident response times. This robot will be deployed at the freely accessible boardwalk next year, when the trial kicks off.
The pilot will also look at seamless remote management of the various AMRs at work through a centralised control system. This will help streamline task coordination, path deconfliction and enable flexibility in AMR deployment.
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The trial follows the signing of a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) between Mandai Wildlife Group and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in 2023 to co-develop innovative solutions for commercial deployment, addressing immediate market gaps and helping enterprises to be future-ready with new capabilities. It involves tech solution providers, including Autove, Botmind, dConstruct, and Kabam.
“We are on a journey to transform the Mandai Wildlife Reserve into a smart precinct, where technology and innovation are leveraged to enhance guest experience and animal care, while optimising operations. Through our collaboration with IMDA, we have been tapping into the technology ecosystem to find innovative solutions that address the unique challenges as we transition from a collection of wildlife parks to a nature and wildlife precinct,” says Belina Lee, deputy CEO, Transformation and Growth at Mandai Wildlife Group.
She continues: “The AMR trial is our latest important milestone that seeks to demonstrate the potential of autonomous systems in dynamic environments, delivering impactful and positive business outcomes across multiple use cases. We are excited to deepen our collaborations with IMDA and industry partners, with the Mandai Wildlife Reserve serving as a living lab for innovation, where we can test and refine new technologies that will help us stay future-ready and deliver actionable insights that will shape the next generation of technologies.”
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Leong Der Yao, assistant chief executive, Sectoral Transformation Group at IMDA, adds: “Industry collaborations are an integral part of IMDA’s efforts to build Singapore’s AMR capabilities. This partnership with Mandai Wildlife Group will enable our local AMR tech solution providers to develop solutions to fit the business and operational needs of an outdoor attraction, while addressing technical challenges to close the gap in the current AMR technologies.
“We will foster an ecosystem where companies can collaborate, innovate and overcome technical barriers. Looking ahead, we want to increase the successful deployment of AMRs in Singapore, opening pathways for broader adoption across Singapore’s industries. This pilot is just the beginning of how smart technologies like AMRs will transform how we live, work and play, creating a future where automation enhances experiences and efficiency for businesses and consumers alike."
