(1) ISAS/JAXA, 3- 1- 1, Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, 229-8510 Kanagawa, Japan;(2) Chuo University, 1- 13- 27, Kasuga, Bunkyoku, 113-8551 Tokyo, Japan;(3) Meiji University, 1- 1- 1, Higashimita, Tamaku, 214-8571 Kawasaki, Japan
Abstract:
Unmanned mobile robots for surface exploration of the Moon or planets have been extensively studied and developed. A lunar
rover is expected to travel safely in a wide area and explore in detail. Japanese lunar robotics exploration is under study
to conduct an unmanned geological survey in the vicinity of central peaks of impact craters for investigation of the sub-surface
materials. This will give us the key information to study the lunar inner structure and understand the Moon’s origin and evolution
as well as to investigate the evolution of magma ocean and later igneous processes. To carry out the geological exploration
in the central peak, lander and rover co-operative exploration is proposed. The working group has been conducting feasibility
study of advance technologies. This paper addresses an overview of lunar exploration with lander and rover and also enumerates
future technologies to be established.
The rover R&D group has developed an innovative science micro rover with a new mobility system and a lightweight manipulator.
The design and implementation of a science rover for the near future lunar missions requiring long traverses and scientific
observations are described and some experimental results are presented.