Singapore Xavier patrol robots

Singapore government's Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) has announced it is conducting a three-week test of robots that will scan the Toa Payoh neighbourhood for 'undesirable social behaviours'.

These behaviours include the congregation of more than five people, smoking in prohibited areas, illegal hawking, improperly parked bicycles, and riding motorised active mobility devices and motorcycles on footpaths.

The agency says the robots will be used for surveillance and public education during the trial, and will not be used for law enforcement. It went on to argue that robots are needed to address a labour crunch in an ageing society with a smaller workforce.