SINGAPORE: A S$42.4 million research and development (R&D) laboratory is in the works under a five-year public-private partnership to boost Singapore’s development of artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, robotics and smart computing.

Called the Singtel Cognitive and Artificial Intelligence Lab for Enterprises (SCALE@NTU), the lab is a collaboration between telco Singtel, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) aimed at boosting the country’s Smart Nation drive. 

The lab will allow researchers develop applications for use in the areas of public safety, smart urban solutions, transportation, healthcare and manufacturing. It also aims to resolve challenges faced by cities in keeping their infrastructure facilities in “tip top running condition”.

About 100 researchers from Singtel and NTU will work at the new lab while another 200 research engineers, graduate and undergraduate students will also be trained in the lab. 

This comes as Singtel signed agreements with NTU and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) on Monday (Dec 4) to increase R&D efforts in technologies that will support Singapore’s transformation into a Smart Nation as well as boost the country’s digital economy.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also chairman of the NRF, said the initiative will allow public researchers a better gauge of market demand for their research domains, while local enterprises can develop a good pipeline of products and services.

 “In Singapore, the Government is working closely with our companies, unions and workers so that we can succeed in the digital age. At the national level, we are advancing our Smart Nation initiative. At the sectoral level, under the Industry Transformation Maps, each sector is developing its digitisation plan and coordinating efforts to upgrade the digital capabilities of our companies and workers,” Mr Teo said.

One area of the lab’s research includes the use of smart sensors embedded with AI to pinpoint when facilities such as lifts and escalators require maintenance – before breakdowns occur.

Maintenance work can then be deployed only when necessary to achieve optimal performance for these assets and help cut operating costs, according to joint new release issued by Singtel, NTU, A*STAR and NRF.

“As businesses face the rising threat of technological disruptions, companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to gain deeper insights through data analytics, better engage their customers and transform their operations through digitalisation,” said Mr Bill Chang, Singtel’s group enterprise CEO. 

Singtel and A*STAR will also work together on other projects including smart building automation systems, robotics and Internet of Things (IoT) applications that could help boost operating efficiencies in various industries. 

For example, robots can be deployed to handle biohazardous waste, allowing companies to deploy their employees to undertake higher value-added jobs.

A*STAR will set up a model factory to test these technologies on Singtel’s NarrowBand-IoT and 5G mobile network next year.

“Public-private partnerships and open innovation pave the way for successful projects that could benefit the Singapore economy and lives of Singaporeans. In this age where disruptions are emerging rapidly, such joint collaborations are all the more valuable,” said Professor Tan Sze Wee, executive director of the science and engineering research council at A*STAR.

SINGAPORE: Telecommunication giant Singtel and bike-sharing company Mobike signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday (Dec 4), adding that they will work together to explore mobile payments for bike rides as part of the deal. 

According to a joint news release, Singtel customers across Asia will be able to pay for Mobike trips through the Singtel Open Platform, a group-wide payment gateway. 

They can use direct carrier billing or Singtel’s mobile wallets to pay for Mobike trips, the two companies explained. 

“This will provide a seamless, secure, and convenient experience for users, especially in the developing markets where many still do not have credit or debit cards,” the release added.  

Besides mobile payments, the collaboration also covers mobile payments, Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics and marketing across Asia.  

MOU TO EXPLORE IoT, DATA ANALYTICS 

For instance, the two companies said they intend to explore new IoT technology which will enable the smart bikes to be located more precisely, even in areas that are technically challenging for mobile signals such as underground parking spaces. 

Also, the new technology will help to reduce power consumption and extend the battery life of the smart locks.

The pair will also explore the use of data analytics to improve the distribution of Mobike’s fleet for “better user experience, higher operational efficiency, and to contribute to smarter, more sustainable cities”. 

Co-Founder and CTO of Mobike Joe Xia said: “Singtel shares our vision of improving urban mobility and building more sustainable cities though introducing smart bike-share technology to cities. 

Mobike is the world’s first and largest smart bike-sharing company, and this partnership puts further momentum behind the Mobike movement in Singapore and across Asia,” added Mr Xia. 

The partnership extends across Singtel, Optus and regional associates Airtel, AIS, Globe, and Telkomsel, the release added, providing a combined reach of over 585 million customers in Asia.

SINGAPORE: Travellers arriving at Changi Airport during the year-end holiday period may experience delays in retrieving their luggage due to the monsoon season, said Changi Airport Group (CAG) on Monday (Dec 4). 

It explained that heavy rain and lightning may force ground handlers to temporarily stop the retrieval of baggage from aircraft.

“This is for the safety of the baggage handling staff,” said CAG.

“When there is lightning activity, there is also the possibility of a ‘side flash’, where dangerous static electric discharge occurs even when the workers are standing close to the aircraft and not in contact with any object,” it added, noting that lightning alerts have also been issued when it is not raining.

Last month alone, bad weather led to baggage delays for 1.5 per cent of arrival flights. 

Out of 14,971 flights, there were baggage delays for 225 flights, said CAG. That is almost triple the average of 78 cases per month from January to October this year.

According to the Meteorological Service last Thursday, wet and rainy weather is expected to continue in the first two weeks of December.

It added that with the onset of the northeast monsoon, two to four episodes of monsoon surges can be expected from December to January, bringing prolonged, widespread rainfall that can last between two and five days. 

Under normal weather conditions, CAG aims to get passengers their luggage within 35 minutes after the aircraft parks. It said it has achieved this for more than nine in 10 passengers.

AFFECTED PASSENGERS CAN WAIT IN LOUNGES

In the case of baggage delays, CAG said it will activate messages on the monitor displays at the baggage claim belts and issue public announcements at regular intervals.

A sign or “lightning cubes” will also be placed on the relevant baggage claim belts. This is being tested at Terminal 3 and there are plans for it to be rolled out across all terminals, said CAG.

It added that affected passengers will be offered refreshments such as bottled water, canned coffee, packet Milo and biscuits while they wait for their bags. CAG has also turned some space in the Baggage Claim Hall of Terminals 2 and 3 into lounges where passengers can access WiFi  and power plugs.

In extreme cases where the delay is expected to be long, CAG noted that some airlines offer a complimentary home delivery option.

Given that Singapore has one of the highest occurrences of lightning activity in the world, CAG said it has measures in place to protect staff.

These include having ground handlers use of wireless headsets which help to remove the possibility of lightning-induced static discharge from the aircraft.

Since August, CAG has also made it compulsory for all aircraft to perform three-point aircraft grounding, to prevent the accumulation of electrical charge by dissipating them to the ground safely.

“The safety of airport workers is paramount to CAG. We seek passengers’ understanding that we will do our best to present their bags for collection as soon as it is safe to do so, be it rain or shine,” CAG added. 

SINGAPORE: The first fleet of cars for an electric car-sharing scheme will hit the roads next Tuesday (Dec 12).

BlueSG, a subsidiary of French transportation firm Bollore Group, said it will deploy 80 vehicles which users can book via the BlueSG mobile app. The app will be available on the App Store and Google Play from Dec 5.

The company signed an agreement with the Land Transport Authority and the Economic Development Board last year to develop the electric car-sharing programme, which will see 1,000 electric cars deployed in stages.

Rentals will be charged based on duration instead of distance, and users can choose from two subscription plans.

Under the premium yearly membership plan, priced at S$15 a month, subscribers are charged S$0.33 per minute for a minimum booking of 15 minutes.

The weekly membership plan does not charge a recurring fee and users will pay S$0.50 per minute for a minimum duration of 15 minutes.

“We are excited about the impending official launch in Singapore, as it is the world’s second biggest electric vehicle car-sharing programme after Paris,” said BlueSG managing director Franck Vitte in a news release.

A total of 30 BlueSG stations offering 120 charging points will be rolled out islandwide by the end of this year. 

Of these, 18 stations will be located in public housing estates including Tampines, Bishan and Punggol, while 10 stations will be in the city centre and its fringes and two others will be within the industrial and commercial estates at one-north and the Science Park.

The company said it aims to have a fleet of 1,000 electric vehicles and 2,000 charging points by 2020.

Those interested can sign up and register on BlueSG’s website.