A*STAR Social Robotics Lab

The ASTAR Social Robotics Lab (ASORO) is part of Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), a government statutory board driving mission-oriented research. ASORO focuses on developing socially intelligent robots capable of interacting naturally with humans in healthcare, education, entertainment, and public service contexts. The lab integrates expertise from robotics, AI, speech recognition, vision, and human-robot interaction to create robots that can understand social cues, communicate effectively, and assist in daily tasks.

ASORO’s research spans robotic perception, dialogue systems, motion control, and multi-robot collaboration, aiming to deploy robots that enhance workforce productivity and quality of life, especially amid Singapore’s aging population and labor shortages. The lab has developed pioneering social robots such as OLIVIA and LUCAS, which demonstrate advanced speech recognition, vision understanding, and social interaction capabilities.

The lab collaborates extensively within A*STAR’s institutes and with industry partners to translate research into practical applications, including autonomous vehicles, patrolling robots, and shelf-scanning robots. ASORO’s work contributes to Singapore’s smart nation initiatives and supports sectors like healthcare, security, retail, and education.

‍

• OLIVIA: One of Singapore’s first social robots, capable of social interaction, playing music, controlling appliances, and making calls.
• LUCAS: Social robot developed alongside OLIVIA for public engagement and service tasks.
• Autonomous Service Robots: Including patrolling robots and shelf-scanning robots developed for retail and security applications.

‍

ASORO specializes in social robotics integrating AI for natural language processing, vision, and human-robot interaction. Their robots excel in dynamic, unstructured environments, providing assistance in healthcare, education, retail, and public safety. The lab focuses on multi-robot collaboration, autonomous navigation, and socially aware behaviors.

• Backed by Singapore’s government with stable funding and strategic support.
• Strong interdisciplinary research combining robotics, AI, speech, and vision technologies.
• Proven track record with successful prototypes and spin-offs (e.g., MooVita, Senserbot, BotMind).
• Alignment with national priorities addressing aging population and labor shortages.
• Collaboration with industry accelerates technology transfer and commercialization.
• High Technology Readiness Level (TRL) projects facilitate market adoption.
• Active participation in international robotics competitions and exhibitions enhances visibility.

‍