SINGAPORE : The Defence, Science and Technology Agency, or DSTA, is challenging researchers to design a robot for urban warfare.
This was announced at the National University of Singapore-Temasek Laboratories Building's groundbreaking ceremony.
The building to be completed in 2008 will house labs for defence science .
Four percent of the defence budget, or S$350 million, goes to research & development and it is through such spending, that the SAF has achieved a multiplier effect using technology.
Dr Ng Eng Hen, Second Defence Minister, says: "But with greater use also comes greater dependence on technology and exposure to its inherent vulnerabilities. This is the reason why we in the Mindef have invested heavily to develop an ecosystem that will provide a cadre of skilled personnel to develop and sustain and optimise the technologies that we employ.
"We would be severely mistaken if we thought that such technologies can be bought off the shelf. Integration, customisation and optimisation are critical processes needed to achieve the force multiplier effect. Because if its not done adequately, one could end up with a very expensive system but with little effect."
Dr Ng said Mindef is working with research institutions all over the world.
One of them is the Temasek Laboratories which receives S$7 million a year for research conducted by its 72 staff.
Professor Lim Hock, Director - Temasek Laboratories at NUS, says: "Our mission is to provide the scientific foundation for future defence technology so certainly we hope we can develop good research tools, develop important understanding of the key concepts and techniques for electromagnetics, aeronautics, control guidance and so on, this can be translated in DSO in actual defence capability."
In the last six years, the Temasek Laboratories has developed a suite of electromagnetic modelling tools for antenna design, tested algorithms for fault tolerant control (this enables air vehicles to maintain flight performance despite damages in control surfaces), and coded a aerodynamic simulation system which can be used in aircraft design.
To encourage outstanding researchers to undertake R&D for defence, a S$500,000 grant is also given out every year.
The winner this year is Dr Chen Ping, who is looking at developing hydrogen fuel cells.
Assistant Professor Chen Ping, Winner, Temasek Young Investigator Award, Faculty of Science, NUS, says: "Hydrogen fuel cell offers clean and efficient energy source and if we could produce hydrogen by ourselves, we will lessen our dependence on energy supply from foreign countries. One of the most challenging issues is storing hydrogen. Our target is to make a slurry form of our material, that means by mixing our solid materials with solvent, to make a slurry and remove the kinetic barrier."
Hydrogen fuel cells can power submarines and cars.
They are also light, which means soldiers no longer have to carry heavy battery packs.
Dr Chen Ping has been conducting research in this area for 7 years and she has been working with Oxford University, American and Japanese research institutes, the US Army and Navy, General Motors, and Toyota, among others.
As urban warfare becomes increasingly important, DSTA has also launched a TechX challenge.
The task is to build a robot for urban combat.
Researchers who take up the challenge have to design a robot capable of navigation, surveillance, operating an elevator and clearing an obstacle course, all within a stipulated time, without the help of a global positioning system.
A tough task but the winning team walks away with S$1 million.
The TechX Challenge is open to participation from scientists and engineers in Singapore as well as overseas agencies working partnership with a local agency.
Details could be found on the DSTA website.
The Challenge will take place in August next year. - CNA/ch
- channelnewsasia
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The TechX Challenge
Objective
The TechX Challenge is a competition organised by DSTA, Singapore’s national authority for defence science and technology.
It aims to inspire and engage the wider community of engineers and technologists, challenging them to defy conventional thinking and stretch the boundary of science and technology for defence and national security.
This is in line with DSTA’s overall strategy to develop greater indigenous capacity for innovation in R&D to sharpen the technological edge for Singapore’s defence.
Overview
The first TechX Challenge is a race among autonomous robots in an urban setting.
The developers of the autonomous robot that completes all the stipulated tasks most quickly within a specified time will be awarded a prize of S$1 million.
DSTA welcomes interested individuals, companies, tertiary institutions and research institutes to develop an autonomous robot capable of operating in such a constrained environment. Foreign parties are required to collaborate with local partners to participate in the Challenge.
The TechX Challenge includes a review of eligibility, a qualifying round, with the final competition scheduled in August 2008. The layout of the site chosen for the final round of the competition will only be made known very close to or on the day of the finals itself.
"Defence Technology Challenge
When Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean officiated at the Defence Technology Prize in November 2006, he announced that we would be launching a Singapore Defence Technology Challenge within a few months. Today, I am pleased to officiate at the launch of this Challenge, which we have decided to call the TechX Challenge.
Organised by DSTA, TechX is a new initiative to challenge those in the defence technology ecosystem to come up with innovative solutions to address specific operational problems.
Why TechX? Because the technological solution we seek must have a multiplier effect. Also, we are looking for the X factor – that something special that distinguishes the good from the really great technical solution.
The TechX Challenge will require teams of scientists and engineers across different disciplines and technical expertise to work together to solve specific operational problems. TechX will stretch and cross traditional boundaries. The Challenge is open to participation from scientists and engineers in Singapore as well as overseas agencies working in partnership with a local agency.
The winner of the TechX Challenge will walk away with one million Singapore Dollars. The prize is not insignificant. Neither is the challenge. The TechX Challenge this year is in the area of robotics, an area that is relevant and integral to the SAF’s transformation and has high operational payoffs. Specifically, DSTA is looking for a robot that can autonomously navigate from outdoors to an indoor environment. Along the way, the robot has to overcome obstacles, negotiate stairs, operate an elevator to reach a particular floor in the building, and search for targets before navigating back to the starting point. The team that completes all the tasks most quickly and within the specified timing wins. I will leave it to Chief Executive DSTA to announce the details later on.
In conclusion, the defence ecosystem is critical for the success of the SAF. MINDEF will continue to maintain a conducive environment for the local defence technology ecosystem to grow. MINDEF will set the overall direction, provide the resources and establish the necessary policies and linkages to ensure that we can continue to strengthen the foundation and stretch the boundaries of this ecosystem. We want the ecosystem to be vibrant and capable of germinating R&D and innovative ideas that will meet the SAF’s technological needs as it builds up its 3rd Generation Force and beyond. "