In context
As deep-space exploration shifts from pure science to resource utilization, the need for large-scale collection robots on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids has become a strategic priority. This review, published in the Chinese journal Robot in late 2025, captures a moment when robotic sampling had been proven in multiple missions but industrial-scale extraterrestrial mining remained a concept-stage challenge.
What was reported
The article systematically reviews the state of the art in planetary resource collection robots. It covers past small-scale regolith samplers (e.g., Apollo, Luna 16, Curiosity, Perseverance, Hayabusa, OSIRIS-REx) and contrasts them with emerging large-scale concepts and terrestrial mining equipment adaptations.
Key technologies are detailed across design and manufacturing, material processing, autonomous control, energy systems, and ground testing. Challenges include extreme environments, long-distance operational delays, and legal-ethical issues. The authors highlight promising resources: water ice (usable for fuel and life support), metals from M-type asteroids, regolith for construction and radiation shielding, and helium-3 for fusion energy.
Notable examples include NASA's MOXIE experiment extracting oxygen from Mars' CO2 atmosphere, ESA's solar-sintered regolith building blocks, and a Chinese university's vacuum hot-pressed lunar brick tested on the China Space Station.
Why it mattered
This review signals a shift from scientific sampling toward industrial-scale in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). It outlines a three-stage roadmap toward diversified, intelligent, multi-robot collaborative collection integrated with construction—essential for reducing Earth-supply dependence and enabling sustainable deep-space habitation.
"Large-scale resource collection can provide continuous material support for extraterrestrial bases, significantly reducing dependence on Earth resupply."
Source: 《机器人》期刊 (robot.sia.cn) · Published 2025-11-19 · “星表规模化资源采集机器人研究进展及发展趋势”