Meet China’s moon porter for Chang’e-8 mission: a 4-wheeled robot with 2 arms

China is sending a new kind of explorer to the moon – with a humanoid upper body and four wheels. The lunar rover, developed by a team led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), is designed to act as an AI-powered porter for the Chang’e-8 mission, scheduled for 2029. The 100kg (220lbs) robot will transport, deploy and install instruments and sensors at their designated lunar locations after the Chang’e-8 probe lands. It is also tasked with collecting samples of the moon’s...