Singapore wows the car world with leading-edge models

Singapore’s expertise in electronic components, supply-chain management and high-rise parking are well-known in the automotive world. However, this year, the Lion City is emerging as an impressive innovator in mobility with two home-made models.

In May, the Singapore-based OTSAW Digital revealed it would supply Dubai with four-wheeled, mobile O-R3 security robots that would patrol the emirate with laser, thermal-imagery and facial- and number-plate-recognition technology.

“Powered by an advanced machine learning algorithm and 3D SLAM [simultaneous localisation and mapping] technology, the O-R3 navigates its surroundings perceptively,” its maker says, describing the

O-R3 as “the world’s first autonomous security robot with an aerial [drone] and ground collaborative surveillance system”. The machines will arrive in Dubai by the end of this year. A unit of ActiV Technology, OTSAW Digital is also “in discussions” about similar products “with several government agencies and corporations in Singapore and all over the world”, says its spokeswoman, Jasmine Tan.

“We plan to ship 1,000 units next year globally,” the company says, adding that it also has an indoor security robot in the works – and also provides “apps and IoT [internet of things] solutions for industries such as food and beverage, smart homes and video conferencing”.

OTSAW Digital also has a strong Hong Kong connection.

“We have an office in Hong Kong and we are open to partnerships in the southern China region,” Tan says. “We are also evaluating the possibility of listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange in the near future.”

Meanwhile, Singapore’s Vanda Electrics has wowed the car world with three products. Its 3.52-metre Ant truck can carry a tonne of logistics or municipal waste and run for 100km and up to 40km/h on a 48-volt high-efficiency AC-inducted electric motor with fast-charging lithium-titanate batteries. The company also launched its “sassy”, lithium-battery powered stainless steel and aluminium Motochimp electric town bike with a gearless UU Motor 350-watt motor that is supposed to charge in an hour “with a standard three-pin plug that fits snugly under your seat”.