CCTV News: Space mining, this scene that has appeared in science fiction novels and movies in the past is gradually moving towards reality. Not long ago, China's first space mining robot was born at China University of Mining and Technology. Three-wheeled foot, three-clawed foot, adapts to the microgravity environment in space
This is the multi-functional space mining robot developed by Professor Liu Xinhua's team of China University of Mining and Technology. Unlike the popular humanoid robots and robot dogs, the basic form of space mining robots is a hexapod mode, with three wheeled feet and three clawed feet. Professor Liu Xinhua introduced that the reason for this design is mainly to adapt to the microgravity environment in space. Simulate insect claw prick structure, claw prick feet have stronger grip ability
Space mining robots must complete geological exploration and mineral collection tasks on extraterrestrial bodies, and drilling is a necessary skill. In the earth's gravity environment, the robot itself is enough to support the drill bit to drill. The gravity of the moon is only one-sixth of that of the earth, and most of the asteroids are low microgravity. How to make the drill bit penetrate the surface of the star body smoothly becomes a big problem. In order to solve the drift caused by weightlessness, the scientific research team thought of simulating the claw piercing structure of insects, so they designed a special claw piercing foot for space mining robots.
Experts introduced that under the threat of limited earth resources eventually facing the dilemma of exhaustion, human beings entering space is an inevitable choice. As the only natural satellite on Earth, the moon has the advantages and abundant resources of relatively close to the Earth. At present, the exploration and research of lunar resources is the highest in the world and the investment in scientific research is also the largest. Moon resources may become the first space resource developed and utilized by mankind
In addition, the numerous asteroids in the solar system also contain rich mineral resources. Among them, near-Earth asteroids are relatively close to the earth, and are also relatively convenient to develop and utilize. At present, it has been initially understood that more than 1,500 near-Earth asteroids have very high mining value and admissibility.
