Singapore's national water agency, PUB, and the Smart Water Assessment Network (SWAN) use five robotic swans to monitor water quality in various reservoirs around the island.

The robots use real-time, spatial-temporal water monitoring technology to measure the water quality, and send the data wirelessly back to analysts through cloud computing.

The swans have an outer shell that has been designed to look like a real swan, but underneath are propellors and the water sampling equipment. As they float, the robots collect real-time water data on pH value, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll, and algae growth.

The swans can be controlled remotely and sent to specific areas using GPS technology.

The swans ease the burden on water authorities, preventing them from having to physically collect samples from water bodies all over Singapore.

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