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Chinese researchers have proposed a semi-humanoid robot mounted on a wheeled platform as a key part of the infrastructure for the country’s lunar research station planned for 2035.
Combining mobility with humanlike dexterity, the robot is designed to move across the lunar surface while performing delicate tasks such as construction, maintenance, scientific experiments, sampling, and analysis, according to researchers from the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering.
Its waist can rotate about 180 degrees in either direction and bend forward up to 90 degrees. The robot’s nimble hand has four degrees of freedom, enabling precise manipulation, the team reported in the Journal of Deep Space Exploration in December.
“Compared with bipedal walking, a wheeled active suspension moves faster and is more stable, providing a steady platform for work by the upper body,” the researchers explained. “China’s Yutu lunar rovers and Zhurong Mars rover have both used wheeled locomotion.”
The wheels will feature a metal mesh structure with steel-wire treads, making them lightweight and durable while offering flexibility, shock absorption, and reliable performance in extreme cold. This design will enable smooth long-distance travel across the rugged lunar surface, the researchers said.
Humanoid or semi-humanoid robots have long been explored for space operations. Robonaut, jointly developed by NASA and General Motors, became the first humanoid robot deployed in space when it was sent to the International Space Station in 2011.
Mounted inside the station rather than designed to move around, Robonaut assisted astronauts with routine or hazardous work, operating tools and performing specific maintenance tasks in microgravity.
