RoboticsPhysical AI02 sources

Singapore opens a humanoid robotics centre for public safety

A humanoid robot with a purple-and-blue torso marked HTX raises its articulated hand toward the camera inside a bright test hall, while a smiling man in a dark blue shirt wearing motion-capture gloves mirrors the gesture beside it.

AsiaOnePress kit

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs opened the Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre, H2RC, on 30 September 2026. Edwin Tong, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, launched the facility, which is run by HTX, the Home Team Science and Technology Agency. AsiaOne reports that it covers 29,000 square feet.

H2RC is a testbed where Home Team operational settings, industry and academic researchers come together to train embodied AI models for public safety work. Tong set the goal of a first humanoid robot working alongside Home Team officers in a real operational setting by 2028, performing defined tasks safely and reliably.

The use cases named at the launch are responding to chemical leaks, recovering forensic evidence after explosions, and searching prison cells and yards. ST Engineering brings robotics expertise and manufacturer partnerships, and Singtel RE:AI provides AI computing infrastructure.

Tong tied the centre to Singapore’s ageing workforce and limited manpower, and said the aim is to support officers rather than replace them.

Sources

  1. [1]Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre (H2RC) Launch Ceremony - Speech by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home AffairsMinistry of Home Affairs, Singapore··Newsroom
  2. [2]Home Team aims to deploy first humanoid robot alongside officers by 2028AsiaOne··Article