Japanese Moon Mission Features Unique Rolling Robot Inspired by Children's Toys

 

Japanese Moon Mission Features Unique Rolling Robot Inspired by Children's Toys

Japan aims to follow India's successful lunar landing with a distinctive approach involving a tennis ball-shaped rover that evokes the charm of BB-8 from the Star Wars franchise.

Japan's space agency, JAXA, initiated the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission, which recently embarked on its journey into space. Onboard is an unusual robot known as the Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2), resembling a tennis ball in shape.

The ambitious plan involves the SLIM probe descending to approximately six feet above the Moon's dusty surface, where it will release the 8.8-ounce LEV-2 spacecraft. This unique rover will then employ a fascinating method of traversing the lunar regolith by moving its two halves independently, drawing inspiration from the design principles found in children's toys.

The LEV-2 mission is akin to a technological demonstration, as its limited battery life allows it to explore the lunar terrain for just two hours. Nevertheless, its distinctive design has the potential to pave the way for future rover innovations.

Hirano Daichi, senior researcher and developer of the vehicle at JAXA, explained the design concept, stating, “We adopted the robust and safe design technology for children’s toys, which reduced the number of components used in the vehicle as much as possible and increased its reliability." Collaborating with toy manufacturer TOMY and Doshisha University, and with the contribution of Japanese tech giant Sony for the control board and stabilized camera, JAXA brought this unique rover to life.

Before the LEV-2 can embark on its lunar adventure, JAXA must successfully navigate the SLIM probe into lunar orbit and execute its descent—a perilous journey that has proven challenging for several countries in recent years.

Despite the challenges, Daichi and his team remain optimistic about the mission's outcome. He expressed the hope that the rover's unconventional design would inspire children's interest in science, not just limited to space science, as they witnessed a baseball-sized vehicle traversing the Moon's surface, swaying left and right.

For those intrigued by LEV-2, TOMY offers a 1:1 model called Sora-Q, which closely replicates the rover's design and can be purchased for approximately $150.