A*Star signs agreement to develop Web connected sensors for advanced manufacturing

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry and Education Low Yen Ling said the initiative will bridge the gap between academia and industry. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN

SINGAPORE - The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) launched Singapore's first public-private programme for aftermarket digital customer care, which uses Web connected sensors to alert machine owners when something goes wrong.

This is part of Singapore's efforts to digitise its manufacturing industry, as companies which have such connected sensors can better monitor their equipment and get real-time updates should something go wrong.

A*Star is working with companies and start-ups to develop an industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to help local manufacturing firms gain more information about the state of their equipment.

On Friday (Sept 15), A*Star signed a memorandum of understanding with 13 companies to develop such IIoT solutions for industrial customer care.

This could result in using Web sensors to detect when machines might spoil, or to keep track of their condition, so that owners can have a better idea of when to repair or replace them.

The 13 companies involved include large multinationals such as Rolls-Royce and Microsoft; start-ups and small and medium enterprises such as Sidefx Studios and Concorde Security; and telcos Singtel and StarHub.

This initiative will first focus on the aerospace, offshore and marine, and land transport sectors.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry and Education Low Yen Ling, who was present at the signing, said the initiative will bridge the gap between academia and industry.

"This can be used by businesses to optimise asset utilisation, conduct predictive maintenance and even create new business models," said Ms Low.

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