For patrolling and maintenance of buses
In Singapore, for three months, a robot called Mars has been supporting security guards in patrolling the Seletar bus depot, detecting intrusions or tampering.
Mars, developed by Weston Robot, is an autonomous mobile system that can travel 15 km before recharging, operating in any terrain and weather conditions thanks to artificial intelligence. With high-definition cameras, thermal imaging and real-time video analysis, it is able to detect human or animal presences and transmit live video to operators.
This robot is considered indispensable for improving safety, supporting security guards but not replacing them. During the day, officers can monitor live video and focus on more complex tasks while Mars patrols. Following the successful trial, operator SBS Transit plans to introduce it at all bus and train depots.
Mars is not the first robot used: in Sengkang, a robotic dog called kAI already assists technicians in train maintenance. Furthermore, the Sentinel project was presented, an advanced platform for analyzing data from robots and cameras, useful in very busy areas. Robot ‘dogs’ are already used in several countries for security and surveillance purposes. In Europe, the UK and France employ them for critical infrastructure monitoring and inspections in harsh environments.
In the United States, models such as Boston Dynamics’ “Spot” are used by security agencies and private companies, while Singapore uses them for patrolling and security in public transport. They have also been tested in Belgium and Asia for police operations or public monitoring, with growing applications in commercial and government sectors.
