China is accelerating the development of innovative robots for lunar and asteroid exploration. Researchers at China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) have developed a new robot that can adapt to various terrains by combining insect movements, woodpecker climbing dynamics, and origami techniques.
This robot is designed to move on smooth surfaces with three wheeled legs, and on rocky or low-cohesion terrain with three clawed legs. Researchers used a shape memory alloy, titanium-nickel alloy, to make the wheels, allowing them to recover their original structure after deformation.
The robot is designed to optimize adhesion and grip in microgravity environments and withstand extreme temperature changes and space radiation. Liu Xinhua, head of the CUMT research team, said, "This robot has aligned claws and spine structures, which improves adhesion and grip in microgravity environments."
To evaluate the performance of this robot, CUMT built an experimental environment that mimics the sandy soil of near-Earth asteroids and used a suspension system to simulate microgravity conditions. The researchers have filed a patent for this prototype.
This robot can be used for lunar and asteroid exploration missions, such as the Chang'e 7 mission scheduled for 2026 and the Chang'e 8 mission scheduled for 2028. Chang'e 7 will investigate water ice deposits at the lunar south pole, and Chang'e 8 will experiment with the potential for utilizing resources discovered in previous missions and lay the groundwork for manned exploration before 2030.
As part of its long-term space program, China plans to begin construction of an international lunar research base between 2028 and 2035. China has invested heavily in its space program and has succeeded in landing Chang'e 4 on the far side of the moon and landing on Mars, becoming the third country to land on Mars after the United States and the former Soviet Union.
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