Robots to clean, patrol and deliver food in Singapore’s Punggol under expanded AI trials
SINGAPORE, May 20 — Eight companies, including Grab and Certis, will reportedly lead a renewed push to deploy robots for cleaning, security patrols and food delivery in Singapore’s Punggol Digital District.
According to Singapore’s The Straits Times, large-scale trials are expected to begin by the end of 2026 to test artificial intelligence safety measures and help shape regulations for wider adoption.
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo announced the initiative today at the Asia Tech x Summit, saying robots could help workers improve service delivery in areas that are currently underserved.
“We will create an integrated data platform, design renewable test scenarios and rules that enable robots to safely operate across the district,” she was quoted as saying.
According to the report, the eight firms involved are Grab, DHL, Certis, Quikbot, FieldAI, Thoughtworks, Slamtec and Unitree, working with government agencies and the Singapore Institute of Technology.
The robotic fleet will be tested on public roads, in office building lobbies and on a university campus to create realistic conditions for autonomous robots and AI systems.
In a joint statement, the Infocomm Media Development Authority, JTC and SIT said robotics and embodied AI marked a shift from screen-based tools to physical systems that can perceive, reason and act in the real world.
Embodied AI refers to AI-powered physical systems, including humanoid robots, general-purpose robots and autonomous vehicles, that can interact with their surroundings.
The authorities said delivery robots could improve first- and last-mile efficiency, while cleaning and security robots could support human operations after office hours, in hard-to-reach areas and through more frequent cleaning.
Robot operators will reportedly get special approval to test their machines on public paths across the district, instead of having to apply separately to the Land Transport Authority for each trial.
IMDA, JTC and SIT said more details on the trials and use cases will be shared later this year when the testbed is launched.
