SINGAPORE - Driverless shuttles, biometric scanners and even a solution to allow servicemen to use their camera-equipped smartphones in camp.
These technology-based initiatives will be implemented by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in years to come.
They are part of a 'Smart Defence' vision announced on Wednesday (Sept 2) by Second Minister for Defence Lui Tuck Yew at Mindef Pride (PRoductivity and Innovation in Daily Efforts) Day, an annual event showcasing outstanding and innovative Mindef and Saf projects.
Mr Lui, who is also the outgoing Minister for Transport, presented 29 Pride Day awards to individuals, groups and units from Mindef and SAF at the event, held at the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
Another 158 awards were given out earlier by Chief of Defence Force Major-General Perry Lim.
The innovations and work improvement ideas saved Mindef $141.8 million in the last financial year. They include an iPad app that reduces time spent on paperwork by up to 80 per cent, and a naval gun performance test that uses laser technology, saving more than $200,000 a year.
Mr Lui highlighted the importance of continual innovation, and said that technology can help to "maximise every soldier's potential in operations, and relieve personnel, as much as possible, of dangerous, laborious or mundane tasks".
"Our vision of Smart Defence is to apply new technologies so that we as an organisation work smarter, and our people's work lives are improved."
