Report on Robotics and Automation Activities in Singapore
Danwei Wang · 2010
Singapore is a city nation located in Southeast Asia with a land area of 682.7 km 2 and a population close to 5 million. Singapore’s tertiary education system consists of three universities and four polytechnics. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University of Singapore (NUS) host major engineering faculties with comprehensive and intensive research programs. ASTAR is a national research agency and oversees 14 research institutes (RIs) and seven consortia/centers. Since the 1960s, manufacturing and industrial technologies have been the key contributors to Singapore’s economic growth. Now, knowledge-based economy is a goal in government’s policy, planning, and management. Academics, industries, and defense are actively involved in R&D and work together to stay ahead with technology advancement. Besides universities, robotics education and activities are well established at high schools and polytechnics and are met with enthusiasm by students. Most of the 48 active IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) members in Singapore are from academics and RIs. The rest of this report provides some snapshots of the local robotics and automation (RA) activities.