The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is now housing an aerial arena that will support the flight testing of aerial robotics and drone-related projects.
Funded by the National Robotics Programme (NRP), the four-storey semi-outdoor AerialArena@SUTD will be opened to the R&D and education community, industry, and government organisations for pilot training, showcases, test-bedding, as well as student workshops and competitions.
AerialArena@SUTD is equipped with netting, 5G network and 3D localisation instruments.
Since it leverages the existing infrastructure of SUTD, it enables instructors to conduct drone courses and hold practical drone flying lessons. The unique multi-floor corridors can also be adapted by companies to test and showcase new aerial robotic technologies.
The semi-outdoor design of the courtyard also makes the space a good testbed environment for urbanised areas where satellite signals may not be optimal. The netted enclosure also makes it possible to fly drones within the courtyard.
One of the first projects to utilise the AerialArena@SUTD is the Ground Integrated Robot with Aerial Flying Flexible End-effector (GIRAFFE) R&D project. Funded by NRP, the project aims to develop novel tethered drones for various applications such as inspection and high-pressure cleaning.
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Gardens by the Bay will also be using AerialArena@SUTD for flight testing of drones as part of its project with SUTD and Spinoff Robotics, a local start-up incubated at SUTD. They will collaborate to develop and commercialise aerial robotics technologies that can augment the work of humans in the landscape, cleaning and built environment sector.
“We at NRP are proud to be contributing to a growing robotics ecosystem within Singapore. Over the last six years, we have invested in the development of a new generation of smart robots for use beyond the factory floors to safely augment and assist humans with tasks they can’t, won’t or shouldn’t do. Our mantra for such robots is robotics empowering people,” says Professor Quek Tong Boon, chief executive of the National Robotics Programme.
“We are fortunate to have forged many excellent R&D, industry and public sector partnerships to co-create such robots for the betterment of our work, workspace, workforce and daily living. We aim to position Singapore as a global centre of excellence for robotics technologies. Moving forward, what excites us is the prospect of creating even more innovative robotics solutions and growing our robotics talent pool to address national challenges and invigorate the Singapore robotics ecosystem,” he adds.
