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| Japan sends a transformable robotic ball to the moon |
Japan is preparing to explore the moon with an unusual robot. The robot is clearly influenced by the Japanese tech industry.
JAXA announced that it will send a baseball-sized rover to the moon next year to collect data on moon dust.
The miniature ball robot can move the entire surface in the driving position without rolling.
The agency worked with Sony, Doshisha University, and toy maker Tommy Tomy to create a transformable robot.
The robot is spherical, used to study the Earth of the Moon, and sent a manned rover in 2029.
The Japanese company ispace supplies 250g of mobile stations with the commercial landing craft HAKUTO-R.
Japan has a chance to join a special club made up of just three countries: the United States, the Soviet Union and China.
These three countries are able to land on the moon. If Japan carries out its plan successfully, it will give unprecedented global credibility to the space program.
Japanese robot to land on the moon:
With the help of many powerful players in the industry, shiftball is packed with science gear.
Sony is working hard to develop imaging and control technologies for robots. Japanese game maker Tommy helps cut technology to make sure everything works.
Another very important function of a robot is data acquisition. This is to ensure that the agency's large rover is ready for launch on the moon's surface in 2029.
The data obtained from ispace aims to improve the design accuracy, automation and propulsion technology of the manned rover currently under investigation in JAXA.
Since 2016, we've been searching together for convertible lunar robots. When Sony entered Japan in 2019 and Doshisha in 2021, these efforts were greatly encouraged.
The deformable moon robot will be an ultra-slim and extremely lightweight robot. Therefore, it can deal with the harsh lunar environment by using miniaturization technology, control technology and development technology to deal with the space environment.
After reaching the surface of the moon, the robot has a deformation function that helps reduce size when transported to the moon.
It is also expected to play an active role in future lunar exploration missions.