Chinese researchers at Peking University are developing and testing robotic dogs to explore lunar lava tubes, which are considered ideal sites for future human bases due to stable temperatures and radiation protection.

The robots were trialed in a cave near Jingbo Lake in northeastern China, a site chosen for its geological similarity to the moon’s underground terrain.

One robot, inspired by anteaters, uses a flexible arm and rigid platform for multifunctional tasks, while the other, modeled after a salamander, is a soft-wheeled design for navigating complex terrain.

The robots are equipped with lidar and autonomous mapping capabilities, allowing them to scout areas impassable to humans and gather high-precision 3D data, the South China Morning Post has reported.

These tests advance China’s long-term plans for lunar exploration, including the Chang’e 7 mission and the International Lunar Research Station with Russia in the 2030s.