| |
Speech by Mr Ko Kheng Hwa, Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board at the opening of Singapore Robotics Games 2008 on Tuesday, 8 January 2008 at 1.00pm at Singapore Science Centre
Professor Marcelo Ang, Chairman of Singapore Robotics Games Society 2008 Organising Committee
Dr Chew Tuan Chiong, Chief Executive, Singapore Science Centre
Distinguished Guests
Participants
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good afternoon.
Introduction
1. I am indeed delighted to join you for the opening of the Singapore Robotics Games 2008.
2. The number of robots sold worldwide is growing rapidly at annual rate of around 40%. This is driven by advances in technology on the supply side and new applications of robotics on the demand side.
Robotics – A Growing Worldwide Industry
3. The hardware, software and development tools in robotics technology are becoming more sophisticated. They have enabled new systems with greater intelligence and functionality to be developed in a shorter time.
4. New applications emerging in many sectors are triggering a rise in demand for robots. I would like to highlight 3 such areas:
i. Industrial Robots
This has been the traditional application for robots. However, we are seeing applications extend beyond the ubiquitous robotic arm on the factory floor. One example is the robots used for the autonomous (ie. self-guided) transportation and sorting of parts and raw materials for manufacturing. Robots are also useful when the work environment is too hazardous for human beings. For example, autonomous undersea vehicles are currently used by scientists to study environmental change. Industrial robots themselves are also becoming more human friendly. The German industrial robot company Kuka, for example, is building more intelligence into robots so that they can work closer together with humans.
ii. Healthcare and Wellness
Robots are increasingly used not only to assist doctors but also their patients and the elderly. For example, the Da Vinci system, in use at Singapore General Hospital, gives surgeons better dexterity, precision and control than is humanly possible. In Japan, a robot arm called “My Spoon” feeds the elderly who have difficulty doing so themselves; and Paro, the robotic pet, enhances the quality of life of the elderly where it is not practical to use real pets for hygiene reasons. We expect greater use of robots as the population ages.
iii. Consumer
The biggest growth potential lies in personal and home robots. For example, iRobot has so far sold more than 2 million units of its popular Roomba (for vacuuming the house) and Scooba (for scrubbing the floor). Some industry players are predicting that the day will come when there will be one robot in every home just like the PC.
5. This is perhaps one reason why Bill Gates of Microsoft is betting on robotics. In an article written for Scientific American in 2006, he compared the state of the robotics industry with the computer industry in the mid-1970s. He said, “As I look at the trends that are now starting to converge, I can envision a future in which robotic devices will become a nearly ubiquitous part of our day-to-day lives.” Microsoft hopes that its recently-developed Robotics Studio software will become the standard robot operating system, in the same way that Windows has become the standard for PCs.
Encouraging the Young to Pursue Robotics
6. I hope by now you would appreciate that the robotics industry not only has bright prospects but that it is also a very interesting and challenging field. It demands expertise in such diverse disciplines like mechanical engineering, electronics, computers, artificial intelligence and human factors engineering. I encourage our young people to consider pursuing the exciting field of robotics in their careers. Today, our ITE, polytechnics and universities offer a range of courses in robotics technology.
7. Events such as the Singapore Robotics Games create awareness of the opportunities in robotics among students and provide learning platforms for friendly competition and creative challenge. I am heartened to learn that some 5,000 students participate in various robotics competitions in Singapore each year. This attests to the popularity of robotics competitions and the interest in this field. Our youth have also consistently done us proud in international robotics competitions such as the World Robotics Olympics.
8. The first Singapore Robotics Games was held 15 years ago in 1993. It has since grown from 250 participants in 5 games to over a thousand participants in 15 games today. I commend the organisers for its success in sustaining and expanding the interest in robotics among our youth.
Conclusion
9. The popularity of robotics competitions and our achievements in international robotics competitions among our young augur well for the future of the robotics industry in Singapore. In the games today, we may see the beginnings of robots that will one day revolutionize the way we live; and in the participants, budding roboticists who may be leaders of that revolution. I wish all competitors best of luck and let’s all be thrilled by the Games! |
|  |
|
