Singapore to launch robotics testbed at Punggol Digital District

The testbed will allow autonomous robots to be tested in a mixed-use public area.

Singapore will set up its first living testbed for multi-operator autonomous robots in a mixed-use public area at Punggol Digital District.

The testbed, expected to launch later in 2026, will be established by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), JTC, and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), together with other government agencies and industry partners.

It will provide a real-world environment for robots and AI systems to be tested and refined, as Singapore looks to advance robotics and embodied AI capabilities.

IMDA, JTC, and SIT will work with eight industry players to develop robotics capabilities and supporting infrastructure in urban spaces.

In the initial phase, Certis, DHL, Grab, and QuikBot will co-design testbed conditions for commercially viable robotics services in public areas.

The planned services include food and parcel delivery, security patrolling, and cleaning. These robots are expected to support first- and last-mile efficiency, extend services beyond office hours, patrol hard-to-reach spaces, and enable more frequent cleaning.

IMDA said the deployment will complement existing human operations, allowing workers to take on higher-value roles such as supervision, operations management, and service delivery.

Robots used in the testbed will need to meet safety standards and defined operational parameters to support safer human-robot coexistence.

The Land Transport Authority will support the initiative through a precinct-level exemption framework under the Active Mobility Act, allowing autonomous mobile robot operators to trial use cases on public paths within PDD, subject to safeguards and safety conditions.

IMDA will also work with the National Robotics Programme on embodied AI use cases with knowledge partners FieldAI and Thoughtworks, as well as robotics companies Slamtec, Unitree, and QuikBot.