The beginnings of homegrown company Cyclect may date back all the way to 1943, but it has already caught on with the times. Cyclect provides mechanical and electrical engineering services to the offshore and marine, infrastructure, and energy sectors. Just last year, it added an automation and robotics team to its research and development department with a goal to enable the ageing workforce and population.
“The business of smart mobility, robotics and Internet of Things allows us to meet our objective. The demand comes from the desire to boost productivity and shifts into digitalisation. Almost all our clients are experiencing challenges from an ageing workforce,” said Cyclect Business Development Director Tan Ee Wei.
High-Tech Applications
Since 2000, Cyclect has been collaborating with various industry stakeholders to develop technology applications that can help older people.
With the technology expertise of Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), prototyping expertise of Watson EP and funding from SPRING Singapore, Cyclect was able to use its latching mechanism and platooning software to create the LINQ automated wheelchair system. Selected Cyclect staff also received training from another technology partner, Savioke.
LINQ, which just completed its trial at Changi Airport, allows multiple wheelchairs to form a convoy led by an attendant. This not only removes the manual effort by wheelchair users but also reduces the number of attendants needed to operate each wheelchair.
The project has helped Cyclect build its capability in the area of robotics development. More of its solutions are now developed in house.
Currently, Cyclect has also developed an intelligent detection-and-alarm system that sweeps airport runways for dangerous debris as well as robotic arms to retrieve luggage.
In future, Ee Wei said powered exoskeleton suits is one innovation that can help to reduce the strain on mature workers as it lends them strength and protect their lower back muscles during lifting of heavy items.
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