China Wants To Send Robotic Dogs To The Moon
Credit: AI
Chinese engineers have proposed making robotic dogs permanent members of a future permanent presence lunar base. The concept was developed by specialists from the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and the Beijing Spacecraft System Design Department. The key difference between this new proposal and all previous similar ones is the intention to empower the robotic dogs with the ability to communicate with humans, providing them with emotional support in isolation.
The concept was described by Chinese specialists in the journal Chinese Space Science and Technology. The idea is for four-legged robots to regularly survey the area around the base. Unlike wheeled vehicles, they will be better able to navigate uneven surfaces and overcome rocks and small obstacles.
Robodogs could also be tasked with collecting lunar soil and rock samples, exploring the surrounding area, and assisting the crew during scientific experiments. One scenario under consideration involves three robots working together with three astronauts, who would be able to delegate tasks among themselves.
In the future, the four-legged machines are expected to be tasked with more serious work—construction and maintenance of a permanent settlement. They could potentially mine water ice and mineral resources, transport materials, and participate in the creation of structures using local lunar resources.
This system is intended to be part of China’s larger International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program. According to plans published by China, a base station near the Moon’s south pole is expected to be established by 2035. The next stage, scheduled for 2045, envisions the creation of a significantly larger infrastructure with a lunar orbital station as the central hub.
