TOP BRAINS IN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY RECOGNISED AT NTU

Much of Mr Cheong Chee Hoo's work at DSO National Laboratories (DSO) is top-secret, but there is one project that he can talk about.

The radar systems expert was the driving force behind DSO's Through-Wall Motion Detector, a locally-developed surveillance device that can detect and track multiple moving objects behind walls over 10cm thick.

Rugged and portable, it can sense objects of any height. There are plans to improve its software; soon, it may be able to tell if its targets are men or women.

"Even though it's relatively small," said Mr Cheong, "we want to make it even smaller and more capable in terms of its detection ranges."

For his work in advanced radar systems, the programme director in DSO's sensors division was given the Defence Technology Prize (DTP) Individual (Research & Development) Award this year.

Established in 1989, the DTP recognises individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to defence science and technology, and is seen as the most prestigious national award by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

The DTP Individual Award is only given, said Chief Defence Scientist Professor Lui Pao Chuen, "when we have a worthy winner".

This year, the DTP Team Award was presented to five project teams:
- Information Security Research Team from DSO;
- Protective Technology Research Team, with members from the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University of Singapore (NUS);
- Singapore Lightweight Howitzer Pegasus Team, with members from DSTA and ST Kinetics;
- Specialised Marine Craft Project Team, with members from DSTA, DSO and ST Marine;
- Intelligence Grid Team from DSTA.
The winners received their certificates and trophies from Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at an awards ceremony on 3 Nov at NTU's Nanyang Auditorium.

In his keynote address, Mr Teo announced three initiatives that "will create greater capacity for our indigenous defence research and development to further sharpen the technology edge for our defence".

To "identify strategic thrusts to enable us to focus our defence R&D investments on high-payoff programmes", the Defence Research and Technology Office (DRTech) was formed with planners from both the technology and operational communities.

The Defence Industry and Systems Office (DISO) was also formed to "sharpen our focus on the build-up of strategic capabilities" in the local defence industry.

These two organisations will work closely with defence technologists "to ensure better resource optimisation, greater cross-fertilisation of ideas and concepts, and more seamless transition from ideas and technology to innovation and capability".

Early next year, a national competition for defence technology ideas - called the Singapore Defence Technology Challenge - will be held to tap expertise in the larger scientific and engineering community in Singapore.

The contest, which is still being fine-tuned at this time, will focus on developing an unmanned system that can function in a constrained setting.

"If you have any ground-breaking ideas that could make a difference to our defence," said Mr Teo, "we would like to hear from you."