A transformable robot has successfully completed autonomous navigation on the lunar surface, capturing images and transmitting them back to Earth during the SLIM mission.

The Japanese Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) deployed the robot after landing on the Moon. Once released, the system transformed from a compact sphere into a wheeled robotic unit capable of movement and imaging.

The device is part of the Lunar Excursion Vehicle (LEV) system developed by Daichi Hirano and colleagues, which includes LEV-1 and LEV-2. LEV-1 is able to communicate directly with Earth and moves using a controlled hopping mechanism. LEV-2 expands from an 8-centimeter sphere into a two-wheeled rover equipped with cameras and a tail stabilizer.

LEV-2 was deployed on 19 January 2024. After deployment, it autonomously explored the area around the SLIM lander, capturing images of the spacecraft and its surrounding lunar environment. The collected data was transmitted to Earth through LEV-1.

The robot operated for more than 100 minutes before communication with LEV-1 was lost. Researchers suggested that hopping movement or battery depletion may have caused the loss of connection.

The mission demonstrates how compact robotic systems can act as independent explorers, reaching environments that larger spacecraft cannot access despite limitations in power and mobility.

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