Robots with ability to stop fights at prisons to be deployed from Oct: Singapore Prison Service新加坡监狱管理局：具备制止监狱斗殴能力的机器人将于10月起在监狱部署
During the trial from October to January, there will be a robot each at three different institutions. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The robot called PROTECT developed by the Singapore Prison Service and Home Team Science and Technology Agency during a media preview at Changi Prison Complex on Sept 3.
Published Sep 03, 2026, 07:30 PM
Updated Sep 03, 2026, 07:30 PM
From October, the Singapore Prison Service will trial a 510kg robot to patrol prisons and break up fights using pepper spray.
It livestreams video and audio to officers, uses AI for human recognition, and can intervene quickly before officers arrive.
The robot allows officers to focus more on inmate engagement and rehabilitation amid rising prison assaults.
SINGAPORE - When a fight breaks out in prison , officers would typically rush out and quell it.
But from October, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) will be deploying a 510kg, pepper spray shooting robot to patrol and detect such situations during a three-month trial.
The 157cm- tall machine , called Prisons Robot To Eradicate Conflicts and Threats (PROTECT), was developed by the SPS with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX).
It is to ensure the safety of both inmates and officers and lead to a faster incident response.
During a demonstration at Changi Prison Complex on Sept 3, officers showed the media how the robot will operate during an altercation.
With the device being controlled remotely, two officers played the roles of inmates fighting before the robot barrelled through a plastic chair before stopping and spraying them with water.
The robot will patrol the yard at different times of the day.
The 157cm-tall machine, called Prisons Robot To Eradicate Conflicts and Threats (PROTECT), was developed by the SPS with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
The 157cm-tall machine, called Prisons Robot To Eradicate Conflicts and Threats (PROTECT), was developed by the SPS with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency.
During an incident, it will issue a warning to move, and shoot pepper spray at non-compliant inmates for about 20 seconds, reaching a distance of up to five metres, before officers rush to the scene.
It will livestream video and audio to officers at the Correctional Unit Control Centre.
SPS said it is still in its development stage, and for now, is unable to detect situations on its own and act on it.
SPS said the robot is equipped with artificial intelligence to recognise humans and allow it to move around obstacles.
During the trial, there will be three robots at three different institutions, which SPS did not want to disclose.
Peng Chongtian, HTX’s lead engineer from Robotics, Automation & Unmanned Systems Centre of Expertise, said the robot is the first of its kind in Singapore.
He said: “The robot was developed from the ground up, specifically to SPS’ needs.”
Peng Chongtian, HTX’s lead engineer from Robotics, Automation & Unmanned Systems Centre of Expertise, said the robot is the first of its kind in Singapore. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
In February, SPS said the rise of young offenders and remand prisoners in 2025 contributed to an increase in assault incidents in prisons .
It said these inmates tend to face more adjustment issues upon admission, are more impulsive and resort to violence when involved in disputes with fellow inmates.
The assault rate went up from 54.4 assaults per 10,000 inmates in 2024 to 76.7 in 2025.
SPS said it uses measures such as inmate reporting, anti-violence programmes and video analytics to detect fights and curb violence in prisons.
On Sept 3, SPS said: “As SPS adopts new technologies, officers will remain at the centre of prison operations and decision-making.”
Fatimah Mujibah is a journalist at The Straits Times covering crime-related stories.
Ministry of Home Affairs
9月3日，新加坡监狱署和内政科技局联合研发的名为PROTECT的机器人在樟宜监狱综合大楼举行媒体预览会。
发布于2026年9月3日晚上7:30
更新于2026年9月3日晚上7:30
从10月起，新加坡监狱署将试用一款重达510公斤的机器人巡逻监狱，并使用胡椒喷雾制止斗殴。
它可以向警员实时传输视频和音频，利用人工智能进行人脸识别，并且可以在警员到达之前迅速介入。
在监狱袭击事件日益增多的情况下，这款机器人可以让狱警将更多精力集中在囚犯互动和改造上。
新加坡——当监狱里发生打架事件时，狱警通常会冲出去平息事态。
但从 10 月起，新加坡监狱署 (SPS) 将部署一台重达 510 公斤的胡椒喷雾发射机器人，在为期三个月的试验中巡逻并检测此类情况。
这款名为“监狱机器人消除冲突与威胁”（PROTECT）的机器高 157 厘米，由新加坡监狱科学研究院 (SPS) 与新加坡内政科技局 (HTX) 联合开发。
这是为了确保囚犯和狱警的安全，并加快事件响应速度。
9月3日，在樟宜监狱综合大楼举行的一次演示中，狱警向媒体展示了机器人如何在冲突中运作。
该装置由远程控制，两名警官扮演囚犯进行打斗，然后机器人冲过一把塑料椅子，停下来并向他们喷水。
机器人会在一天中的不同时间巡逻院子。
这台高157厘米的机器名为“监狱机器人消除冲突与威胁”（PROTECT），由新加坡监狱管理局（SPS）与内政科技局联合开发。海峡时报摄影：金泰
这款高 157 厘米的机器名为“监狱机器人消除冲突与威胁”（PROTECT），由新加坡监狱科学研究院 (SPS) 与新加坡内政科技局 (Home Team Science and Technology Agency) 联合开发。
事件发生时，它会发出移动警告，并向不服从的囚犯喷射辣椒喷雾约 20 秒，射程可达 5 米，之后警员会冲到现场。
它将向惩教单位控制中心的官员实时传输视频和音频。
SPS表示，该系统仍处于研发阶段，目前还无法自行检测情况并采取行动。
SPS表示，该机器人配备了人工智能，可以识别人类并绕过障碍物。
试验期间，将在三个不同的机构使用三台机器人，SPS 不愿透露具体是哪些机构。
HTX机器人、自动化和无人系统专业中心首席工程师彭崇天表示，该机器人是新加坡首台此类机器人。
他说：“这款机器人是完全根据SPS的需求从零开始开发的。”
HTX公司机器人、自动化及无人系统专业中心首席工程师彭崇添表示，这款机器人是新加坡首台同类机器人。（海峡时报照片：金泰）
今年 2 月，新加坡监狱管理局表示，2025 年年轻罪犯和还押犯人数的增加导致监狱袭击事件增多。
报告称，这些囚犯在入狱后往往面临更多适应问题，更加冲动，在与狱友发生争执时更容易诉诸暴力。
2024 年，每 10,000 名囚犯的袭击率上升至 2025 年的 76.7。
西雅图监狱管理局表示，他们采用囚犯举报、反暴力计划和视频分析等措施来发现打架斗殴事件并遏制监狱暴力。
9月3日，SPS表示：“随着SPS采用新技术，狱警仍将是监狱运作和决策的核心。”
Fatimah Mujibah 是《海峡时报》的一名记者，主要报道犯罪相关新闻。
内政部