LTA Trials Humanoid Robot "Olly" at Little India MRT Station
A humanoid robot named Olly is guiding commuters around Little India MRT station as part of a two-week trial by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), running from August 31 to September 11, 2026 on weekdays from 10am to noon.
Standing 1.27 metres tall in a high-visibility vest, LTA's "newest team member" answers passengers' queries and can guide them to the right exits at the Downtown Line section of the station. LTA said the robot will not roam on its own - a team of officers follows closely behind at all times.
How the trial went in week one
Commuters showed curiosity in the first days of the trial, with some bringing their children over for a closer look. Interactions begin with the wake phrase "Hi Olly", which activates the voice assistant - though words have to be enunciated clearly and loudly, much like speaking to an AI voice model.
- What Olly handled well: simple questions, including queries about first and last train services, and straightforward exit directions
- Where Olly stumbled: more complicated requests - when asked for directions to Tekka Centre, the robot took several prompts before producing verbal directions
- The verdict: promising enough to continue, but the robot still has some way to go in navigating a busy station
Why Little India, and why now
LTA chose Little India station because its simpler layout provides a good test-bed for initial use cases, and the station is close to the LTA office where the robot is charged daily. The trial is part of the agency's exploration of how AI-powered technology can support public transport operations.
In May, LTA deputy chief executive of infrastructure and development Yee Boon Cheow said humanoid robots could be helping out at train stations within 10 to 15 years. The Olly trial is an early step in that roadmap - testing not just the robotics, but how commuters interact with a machine in a live station environment.
What this means for commuters
Do not expect robots at your interchange just yet. The trial's findings will inform how LTA designs future human-machine touchpoints in stations - from wayfinding assistance to answering operational queries during disruptions. For now, staff remain the primary source of help at stations.
Little India (DT12, on the Downtown Line) is a short walk from Rochor and Farrer Park stations, and serves the Tekka Centre and Little India Arcade area. Check Little India station details for exits, facilities and first/last train timings.
