# HDB scales up robotics and automation solutions to increase construction productivity at BTO sites

- **Source:** Channel NewsAsia
- **Published:** 2026-09-25T11:51:00.000Z
- **Author:** Erin Liam
- **Original:** https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/hdb-robotics-automation-construction-bto-productivity-timeline-6410356
- **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, Government & Policy, Sustainability & PropTech

## Featured rationale

The technologies and enhanced catalogue, expected to reduce project manhours by up to 20 per cent, could accelerate housing supply without directly raising buyer prices.

## AI summary

HDB will deploy smart hoists at about 50 per cent of new BTO sites tendered from 2027 and standardise 17 precast component types.

## Original article

SINGAPORE: With the precision of a laser, a robot no bigger than a dishwasher zigzags across the bare floor of a living room in a new four-room Build-to-Order (BTO) flat. It carefully levels and smooths freshly laid concrete screed, creating an even floor surface to lay tiles or vinyl. In another room, a worker bends over a mound of screed, setting out level pegs before painstakingly doing the job by hand. The robot is not just faster; a worker can learn to operate it in a few days, compared with months of hands-on experience and repeated practice needed to master the job manually.

The screeding robot is part of the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) roll-out of robotics and automation solutions to increase construction productivity and reduce manpower needs. Speaking at the HDB Awards Dinner on Friday (Sep 25), Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said that to meet strong housing demand, the government must keep improving the way it builds flats by making better use of technology and manpower, raising productivity levels, and shortening construction timelines where possible. “This is why our partnership with the industry is critical. We want to continue to work closely with all of you to find better ways to build, so that together, we can build more and build faster, while maintaining high standards of safety and quality,” he told attendees from the built environment sector. Mr Chee said HDB will deploy smart hoists – automated, temporary lifts at construction sites – at about 50 per cent of all new BTO sites tendered from 2027, and scale up the use of screeding robots at more BTO sites. “This is the next step of our scaling up efforts. But we will not stop here. I've asked HDB to work towards deploying these technologies at all new BTO sites,” he said.

SMART HOISTS, SCREEDING ROBOTS Mr Chee said what matters is not how sophisticated the technology is, but whether it can help to solve practical problems at worksites. He gave the example of the Smart Passenger and Material Hoist, which HDB has been trialling at project sites in Woodlands, Yishun and Rochor. Unlike conventional hoists, which require a dedicated operator for each hoist, smart hoists can be called directly by workers to the floor where they are needed.

Smart hoists also have safety features, such as 2D LiDAR sensors, which scan for obstructions, and anti-pinch sensors that stop doors from closing if something is in the way. One worker can supervise up to three smart hoists using live CCTV footage that can be viewed remotely, compared with one operator for each conventional hoist. At a project with six smart hoists, for example, two workers would be needed instead of six, translating to a productivity gain of about 200 per cent for hoist operations, HDB said. It added that with less manpower required for hoisting operations, workers can focus on other tasks such as supervision and quality checks.

“While this may sound like a relatively simple improvement, the manpower savings do add up across many blocks and many projects, leading to a sizeable overall increase in productivity,” said Mr Chee. Mr Chee also gave the example of using robots for more repetitive and labour-intensive tasks, such as floor screeding. “A screeding robot automates much of this process and creates a more consistent finish. Workers can then be deployed to take on other more productive tasks,” he said. HDB said the time taken for a robot to screed a four-room flat is about a day, although actual productivity gains will depend on factors such as the unit layout and the worker’s experience in operating the robot. The agency has conducted preliminary trials at sites in Bukit Merah and Ghim Moh, and will extend trials to at least four more BTO projects in 2027 to assess the robots under different site conditions and their potential for wider deployment.

HDB said that while the initial costs of adopting robotics and automation are expected to be slightly higher, costs are expected to go down with wider adoption and economies of scale, as the technologies mature and industry capabilities develop. It added that higher construction costs do not translate directly into higher flat prices for home buyers. On how the adoption of technologies will impact waiting times for BTO projects, HDB said the construction methods can shorten the time needed for specific construction activities and improve overall site productivity. However, the construction timeline of a BTO project depends on various factors, including its design and complexity and site conditions, HDB said. GREATER STANDARDISATION Mr Chee also announced the launch of HDB’s Enhanced Precast Components Catalogue (EPCC), which will be made available to industry partners from Sep 28 and implemented in projects tendered from December 2026. The catalogue is a library of detailed specifications and drawings for how to fabricate 17 types of precast components – or building components manufactured off-site – that are commonly used in HDB’s BTO projects. These include precast bathroom units, household shelters and staircases. Standardised precast components such as those used at Central Weave @ AMK, help to simplify precast production and construction. These are productivity gains that could translate into projects being completed several months ahead of schedule, he said. While the current catalogue covers the dimensions of commonly used precast components, the enhanced catalogue will standardise key specifications such as concrete grades, reinforcement provisions and connection details. This will make it easier to use the same components across multiple HDB projects, Mr Chee said. “There are benefits across the value chain. Consultants can spend less time on repetitive design work. Precasters can produce at greater scale and make better use of automation. “Contractors can choose from a wider pool of suppliers, while workers can apply familiar construction methods across different projects,” he added.

Mr Chee said the government expects the enhanced catalogue to reduce project manhours by up to 20 per cent and provide more sourcing options. HDB said the enhanced catalogue groups precast components according to how far they can be standardised. Components that typically do not require project-specific changes, such as staircases and household shelters, will use common specifications across all HDB projects. For the first time, this creates “off-the-shelf” standardised precast components, giving precast suppliers the option of building up a stock of these components to support future supply tenders.

While facade components are standardised within the catalogue, consultants will still be able to design visually unique facades through the use of attachments such as canopies and fins, HDB said. They will also be able to use tools such as formliners – an elastic mould – to create textures on the facade or painted patterns. “I would also like to reassure everyone that greater standardisation does not mean that everything will look the same. We are not baking cookies; so we are not going to use a cookie-cutter approach,” Mr Chee said. “We can standardise components to improve productivity, while continuing to give HDB projects, each one, its own identity and character, based on the surroundings and the community.”

PARTNERING INDUSTRY Mr Chee said HDB is working closely with industry partners to find smarter ways to build. Through the shortened time for completion scheme, contractors can propose and implement innovative construction methods and technologies. Contractors tendering for such projects can factor the additional costs required for these technologies into their bids, and HDB will assess their proposals “holistically”, he said. “This is one of the ways that HDB is investing a small premium into helping our industry players to try new and fresh approaches and to build new capabilities,” said Mr Chee. He added that innovative solutions may also qualify for co-funding support by other agencies such as the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). For example, one solution streamlines the transportation and delivery of precast components from the fabrication yard to the construction site through an inloader, which uses a hydraulic jack system. The solution reduces crane operations and manpower needs. Another technology being piloted at a site in Tengah is a system that uses satellite positioning and digital terrain models to guide excavation more precisely. Beyond technical innovation, Mr Chee said the government is digitalising and streamlining administrative processes to make it easier for business partners. HDB has removed the document fee of S$250 (US$195) for building project tenders, and set up RetailerLink, a one-stop platform for businesses to access HDB’s e-Services, which will continue to be updated with more services. “We need to press ahead on all these fronts,” said Mr Chee. “Because they share a common purpose, which is to help us to build more, build faster and build better, while continuing to deliver quality homes for Singaporeans.”

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 建屋发展局扩大机器人与自动化解决方案的应用规模，以提升预购组屋工地的建造生产力

国家发展部长徐芳达表示，政府还将进一步把预制构件标准化，由此带来的生产力提升可能使项目提前完工。

新加坡：一台不比洗碗机更大的机器人，以激光般的精准度，在一套新建四房式预购组屋（BTO）客厅的裸露地板上曲折穿行。它仔细地整平并抹平新铺的混凝土找平层，形成可供铺设瓷砖或乙烯基地板的平整地面。在另一个房间里，一名工人俯身对着一堆找平材料，先布设水平桩，再费力地用手工完成这项工作。机器人不仅仅是更快；工人几天就能学会操作它，而要手工掌握这项工作，则需要数月的实操经验与反复练习。

找平机器人是建屋发展局（HDB）推行机器人与自动化解决方案的一部分，旨在提高建造生产力并减少人力需求。国家发展部长徐芳达星期五（9月25日）在建屋发展局颁奖晚宴上致辞时说，为满足强劲的住房需求，政府必须不断改进组屋的建造方式，更妥善地运用科技与人力，提高生产力水平，并在可能的情况下缩短建造工期。“因此，我们与业界的伙伴关系至关重要。我们希望继续与各位密切合作，寻找更好的建造方法，从而共同建得更多、建得更快，同时维持高水平的安全与质量标准。”他向来自建筑环境领域的与会者表示。徐芳达说，建屋发展局将在2027年起招标的所有新预购组屋工地中约50%部署智能升降机——即建筑工地的自动化临时升降机，并在更多预购组屋工地扩大找平机器人的使用。“这是我们扩大应用规模的下一步。但我们不会止步于此。我已要求建屋发展局朝着在所有新预购组屋工地部署这些技术的目标推进。”他说。

智能升降机、找平机器人　徐芳达说，重要的不是技术有多先进，而是它能否帮助解决工地的实际问题。他以智能客货升降机（Smart Passenger and Material Hoist）为例。建屋发展局一直在兀兰、义顺和梧槽的项目工地试行这种升降机。与每台都需要专属操作员的传统升降机不同，智能升降机可由工人直接召唤至所需楼层。

智能升降机还具备安全功能，例如可扫描障碍物的二维激光雷达（2D LiDAR）传感器，以及在有物体阻挡时阻止门关闭的防夹传感器。一名工人可通过可远程查看的闭路电视实时画面，最多监管三台智能升降机；传统升降机则是每台配备一名操作员。建屋发展局表示，以一个设有六台智能升降机的项目为例，所需工人将是两名而非六名，相当于升降作业的生产力提升约200%。该局补充说，升降作业所需人力减少后，工人可以专注于监督和质量检查等其他任务。

“虽然这听起来或许只是一项相对简单的改进，但节省的人力会在许多栋组屋和许多个项目中累积起来，从而带来相当可观的整体生产力提升。”徐芳达说。徐芳达还以使用机器人承担重复性更高、劳动强度更大的任务为例，例如地板找平。“找平机器人将这一过程的很大一部分自动化，并形成更一致的完成面。工人随后可以被调配去承担其他更有生产力的任务。”他说。建屋发展局表示，机器人为一套四房式组屋进行找平大约需要一天，不过实际的生产力提升将取决于单位布局以及工人操作机器人的经验等因素。该局已在红山和锦茂的工地进行初步试验，并将于2027年把试验扩展到至少另外四个预购组屋项目，以评估机器人在不同工地条件下的表现及其更广泛部署的潜力。

建屋发展局表示，虽然采用机器人与自动化的初始成本预计会略高，但随着应用范围扩大和规模经济效益显现，以及技术成熟、业界能力发展，成本预计将会下降。该局补充说，较高的建造成本不会直接转化为购房者更高的组屋价格。关于采用这些技术将如何影响预购组屋项目的等待时间，建屋发展局说，这些建造方法可以缩短特定建造工序所需的时间，并提高整体工地生产力。然而，预购组屋项目的建造工期取决于多种因素，包括其设计与复杂程度以及工地条件，建屋发展局说。更大程度的标准化　徐芳达还宣布推出建屋发展局的强化预制构件目录（EPCC）。该目录将自9月28日起向业界伙伴提供，并在2026年12月起招标的项目中实施。该目录是一套详细规格与图纸的资料库，说明如何制造17类预制构件——即在场外制造的建筑构件——这些构件常用于建屋发展局的预购组屋项目。其中包括预制浴室单元、家庭庇护所和楼梯。标准化预制构件，例如Central Weave @ AMK所使用的构件，有助于简化预制生产与施工。他说，这些生产力提升可能使项目比原定计划提前数月完工。现有目录涵盖常用预制构件的尺寸，而强化目录将把混凝土等级、配筋规定和连接细节等关键规格标准化。徐芳达说，这将使人更容易在多个建屋发展局项目中使用相同的构件。“整个价值链都会受益。顾问可以少花时间在重复的设计工作上。预制厂商可以更大规模地生产，并更好地运用自动化。”“承包商可以从更广泛的供应商中选择，而工人可以在不同项目中采用熟悉的建造方法。”他补充说。

徐芳达说，政府预计强化目录可将项目工时减少最多20%，并提供更多采购选择。建屋发展局表示，强化目录根据预制构件能够标准化的程度对其进行分组。通常不需要按项目作特定更改的构件，例如楼梯和家庭庇护所，将在所有建屋发展局项目中使用通用规格。这首次形成了“现成”的标准化预制构件，使预制供应商可以选择为这些构件建立库存，以支持未来的供应招标。

建屋发展局说，虽然外立面构件在目录内已标准化，顾问仍可通过雨篷和翼片等附加构件，设计出视觉上独特的外立面。他们还可以使用造型衬模（formliner，一种弹性模具）等工具，在外立面营造纹理或绘制图案。“我也想向大家保证，更大程度的标准化并不意味着一切都会看起来一样。我们不是在烤饼干，所以不会采取千篇一律的做法。”徐芳达说。“我们可以将构件标准化以提高生产力，同时继续根据周边环境与社区，赋予每一个建屋发展局项目自身的特色与个性。”

与业界合作　徐芳达说，建屋发展局正与业界伙伴密切合作，寻找更智能的建造方式。通过缩短竣工时间计划，承包商可以提议并实施创新的建造方法与技术。他说，竞标此类项目的承包商可将这些技术所需的额外成本计入投标，建屋发展局将“全面”评估他们的提案。“这是建屋发展局投入少量额外费用的方式之一，以帮助我们的业界业者尝试崭新做法，并建立新的能力。”徐芳达说。他补充说，创新解决方案也可能符合其他机构的共同资助资格，例如建筑局（BCA）。例如，有一项解决方案通过采用液压千斤顶系统的内装式运输车（inloader），简化预制构件从预制场到建筑工地的运输与交付。该解决方案减少起重机作业和人力需求。另一项正在登加一处工地试点的技术，是利用卫星定位和数字地形模型、更��确地引导开挖的系统。除了技术创新，徐芳达说，政府正在将行政流程数字化并加以精简，让商业伙伴办事更方便。建屋发展局已取消建筑项目招标新币250元（195美元）的文件费，并设立RetailerLink这一一站式平台，供企业使用建屋发展局的电子服务（e-Services），该平台将持续更新并加入更多服务。“我们需要在所有这些方面继续推进。”徐芳达说。“因为它们有着共同目的，就是帮助我们建得更多、建得更快、建得更好，同时继续为新加坡人提供优质住家。”