Dubai’s utility authority puts robot dogs to work
14 July 2020
by Sarah Wray
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is piloting four-legged dog-like robots for internal operations such as maintenance and quality assurance.
The Spot robots, developed by US company Boston Dynamics, are being trialled by DEWA for detecting faults, testing the connection points of high-voltage cables, pinpointing leakage in water pipes, conducting security and monitoring patrols, and ensuring construction works are aligned with specifications by using multiple-angle cameras.
The robot is designed as a customisable platform which can be integrated with software and sensors to perform tasks in a variety of industries. Dubai’s deployment follows Singapore’s announcement in May that it would pilot a Spot robot to promote safe distancing in parks.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, commented that the robot implementation is in line with the strategy “to make Dubai a city of the future” and “to transform the Government of Dubai into a fully digital government” through the use of Industry 4.0 technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).
Dubai’s 10X drive
He added: “It also supports the Dubai 10X initiative, which mandates the Government of Dubai to become a global leader that is ten years ahead of all other cities through government innovation and reshaping traditional work mechanisms.”
Through its technology arm, Digital DEWA, DEWA is aiming to make Dubai the first city to provide artificial-intelligence-based electricity and water services, as well as autonomous systems for renewable energy and storage.
This week, DEWA officially launched a Smart Cities Command and Control Centre as part of its Moro Hub digital services subsidiary. The centre will provide Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, cybersecurity and managed services to support the adoption of these technologies by government and enterprise customers.
