SINGAPORE - Excitement is soaring at Bird Paradise, the latest wildlife attraction offering a glimpse into the world of avian wonders.

The park is set to enhance its operations with the deployment of a ground-breaking robot meal delivery service tailored specifically for its feathered inhabitants!

This innovative self-driving, all-terrain vehicle is engineered to deftly navigate the park's varied landscapes, from steep slopes to damp pathways, ensuring that food reaches designated feeding spots without delay.

Scheduled to hit the scene in early 2025, this awe-inspiring delivery robot, along with a surveillance bot and a friendly concierge robot, was unveiled during a captivating media showcase on November 19.

The trio is being rolled out as part of an ambitious initiative by Mandai Wildlife Group (MWG) in collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).

Opened in November 2023, Bird Paradise spans an impressive 17 hectares, replicating diverse bird habitats.

However, park personnel face significant challenges when it comes to distributing heavy batches of bird feed.

Traditionally, this meant relying on buggies, which consumes valuable time and labor.

By introducing the robots, MWG aims to relieve staff of these demanding tasks, allowing them to devote more attention to guest engagement and bird care.

The six-month trial period is aimed at assessing the practicality and effectiveness of these outdoor robots.

With insights gained, the technology may be refined and could lead to broader applications across various industries in the future.

Meet Pika, the state-of-the-art delivery robot!

Unlike conventional autonomous mobile bots that struggle on uneven surfaces, Pika boasts rugged wheels, capable of carrying loads of up to 250 kg.

This bug-sized marvel can traverse considerable distances—up to several kilometres per day—transporting bird feed from a centralized kitchen to enclosures throughout the park.

Say goodbye to 1,200 man-hours of manual labor each year!

But the innovation doesn’t stop there!

Visitors to Mandai Wildlife Reserve can also anticipate the introduction of an artificial intelligence concierge robot, developed by local tech firm Autove Robotics.

Sporting a friendly avatar on its onboard screen, this robot will assist guests with directions, pricing, and activity recommendations, enhancing the visitor experience.

And if you're looking for a cute guide, this robot can lead you to essential facilities around the Singapore Zoo entrance!

Adding an extra layer of security, Dash-er, the surveillance robot, will support security staff by constantly monitoring the park grounds.

Equipped with live camera feeds and advanced sensor technology, Dash-er is set to cover a 3.3km patrol route, alleviating about half the workload of human security personnel.

These robots will all operate in harmony through a centralized control system, ensuring seamless coordination.

This initiative is part of a broader agreement between IMDA and MWG to explore robotic solutions to real-world challenges, especially in the wake of workforce shortages.

As the deputy chief executive of transformation and growth at MWG, Ms. Belina Lee, enthusiastically stated, their ultimate vision is to revolutionize the wildlife reserve into a cutting-edge smart precinct—improving visitor experiences while simultaneously ensuring the highest standards of animal care.

Stay tuned for 2025— Bird Paradise is poised to become the ultimate destination for tech-savvy wildlife enthusiasts!