By employing robotics and digitalisation, SP Group is transforming the maintenance of our underground electricity network, making routine inspections safer, smarter and more efficient.

Mr Deric Tang, technical officer at SP Group, trained robotic dog SPock to perform independent tunnel inspections, paving the way for safer, more efficient maintenance operations. PHOTO: SP GROUP

When gearing up to go underground, Mr Deric Tang would don a safety helmet with headlight, vest and shoes. He would pack an emergency breathing kit and walkie-talkie – essentials for the many hours spent inspecting tunnels housing Singapore’s electricity transmission cables. 

As part of SP Group’s (SP) tunnel maintenance team, he and a colleague would walk up to 6km to look for anomalies in the tunnel.

“If we saw problems, we’d take photos and record their location to compile into reports at the end of the day,” says the 46-year-old, who is now a technical officer at the company. 

However, such laborious and physically demanding work is set to become a thing of the past, thanks to a new high-tech “colleague” that Mr Tang has been helping to train. He is SPock.

Armed with video and thermal cameras, this smart dog can navigate tunnels on its own, flagging defects and logging reports of its findings in real time. Currently being piloted in one tunnel, SPock will be a game-changer for routine yet key operations. 

Mr Tang says: “Maintenance teams can now spend much less time on the physical aspects of tunnel inspections and focus on other jobs such as critical repair works.

“The robotic dog is also an asset for safety reasons. It helps improve our emergency preparedness. If there is a pressing incident in the tunnel, the dog can act as the first responder (without the need of human presence) to assess the situation and provide real-time updates, while the emergency response team makes its way to the site.”

In fact, the robotic dog can detect anomalies that may not be picked up in a visual inspection carried out by maintenance staff.

“With its thermal camera, it can see cooler areas along the walls that may indicate cracks and the presence of water. We can’t always see water-formed deposits on the wall clearly with our naked eye, so this will help us further improve our tunnel maintenance and maintain network reliability,” Mr Tang explains. 

With safety being SP’s highest priority, the company is committed to upholding the high standards of network reliability while minimising safety risks to staff, and leveraging digital technology to improve its tasks and processes. As grid operator, SP will also be able to scale up the use of this tool in its operations.

SP estimates that with wider deployment for SPock, it will save 480 man-hours per year for inspections in its tunnels. This complements other tunnels with automated inspection vehicles that monitor tunnel conditions. 

Mr Tang has learnt to test and deploy the robotic dog since working on this project in 2023. He is part of a project team that oversees equipment renewals, upgrading works and innovation efforts, including enhancing the tunnel safety and efficiency of tunnel operations, which is crucial for the reliable delivery of electricity across Singapore.

Working safer, smarter and faster with new technology

For Mr Tang and his team, the SPock project was not just a technological upgrade; it was an opportunity to upskill, gain knowledge in algorithms and machine learning, and hone data analytic skills to sharpen SP’s competitive edge. 

“I’ve always been a ‘tech geek’ at heart, and my bosses are very supportive of this project. This encourages us to push the boundaries to add value safely and efficiently,” he shares. 

Equipped with a camera, the robotic dog’s movements can be tracked in real time as it navigates Singapore’s underground power tunnels, ensuring thorough and efficient inspections. PHOTO: SP GROUP

To train SPock, the team loaded its system with images of various defects, so it could identify them using machine learning. Then, they acted as tour guides, leading SPock through the tunnel to help it map the space and learn to navigate independently. 

“We put SPock through lots of scenario testing, like splashing water on the wall to mimic water seepage, to see if it could ace its assignments,” Mr Tang says.  

They even introduced some fake defects to test SPock’s detective skills, repeating the drills like a high-tech game of “spot the difference”. 

The team also sharpened their problem-solving skills throughout the project, analysing reports and coming up with solutions for each issue they encountered.

“It’s like giving SPock a professional development plan,” Mr Tang jokes. “We want him to stay sharp and keep improving.”

In the future, once SPock completes an inspection, the tunnel maintenance teams can just download its report, evaluate the findings remotely and plan follow-up actions expediently. This removes the need for the teams to perform routine physical inspections, freeing up their time for other key tasks like maintenance data analysis to make things run more smoothly and efficiently.

Mr Tang adds: “This is a perfect example of how digital technologies like SPock can help us work safer, smarter and faster.”