A team of Chinese scientists has designed a six-legged "space mining robot" inspired by insect movement, aimed at prospecting and mining on the moon or asteroids in the future. This innovative robot addresses the unique challenges of surface-penetrating operations in low-gravity environments, such as the moon, which has only one-sixth of Earth's gravity.
Researchers from the China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) drew inspiration from various sources, including insect locomotion, woodpecker climbing dynamics, and origami techniques, to create this bionic robot tailored for asteroid exploration.
Liu Xinhua, the team leader, emphasized the robot's advanced design: "The robot features an arrayed claw-spine structure that enhances its attachment and grip in microgravity."
The robot is equipped with three wheel legs and three claw legs. The wheels are designed for relatively smooth asteroid terrain, while the claw legs handle rocky and loose-soil areas. Made from a nickel-based titanium memory alloy, the wheels can quickly regain their original shape after being deformed by external forces, making them suitable for the extreme temperature fluctuations and radiation present in space.
To test the robot's capabilities, the team has constructed a specialized testing site that mimics the sandy soil of near-Earth asteroids and has employed a suspension system to replicate microgravity conditions.
The research team has already applied for a patent for this space-mining robot prototype.
Looking ahead, China plans to launch the Chang'e 7 probe around 2026 to survey the lunar south pole. Following that, Chang'e 8 is scheduled for launch around 2028 to conduct lunar resource utilization experiments. Together, these missions will lay the groundwork for an international lunar research station by 2035.
(Source: Xinhua)
Related News:
Watch This | EngineAI's humanoid robot PM01 runs in Shenzhen
Comment