According to Sun Zengqi, a space robot specialist and Vice Dean of the Department of Computer Science and Technology of the prestigious Tsinghua University here, relevant science institutions are actively studying key robotic technologies.

Sun said, "Lunar exploration is an important symbol of a nation's high degree of development in space technology. Robots will take on key exploration tasks before Chinese yuhangyuan land on the Moon. Robots will also have important functions in servicing satellites and performing activities aboard a space laboratory."

Sun's comment is a confirmation that the Chinese space program maintains the goal of manned exploration of the Moon. Chinese media have been reporting announcements of future lunar exploration in recent weeks, although the aspect of human missions to the Earth's natural satellite is not clear.

Sun, who is also the leader of the space robotics specialist group, cites yuhangyuan as "extremely expensive resources", thus replacing them in certain tasks would be more economical and enhance safety margin.

The government has recently established the first research organization specializing in space robotics in the city, the National Aerospace High Technology Space Robotic Engineering Research Centre.

Liang Bin, Deputy Director of the research center said: "China has achieved breakthrough development in many key space robotic technologies. If the need arises, robots can be sent into space very soon."

The centre has started cooperative research with institutes in U.S. and Hong Kong.

Last week during a session at the International Conference on Engineering and Technological Sciences 2000, which was held here between the 11th and 13th, Sun described the future lunar robotic explorers as "small, lightweight and mobile, would climb up slopes and evade obstacles, and adapt to tremendous temperature difference".

These robot explorers would scout for manned mission landing sites and areas of scientific interest, place science instruments on the surface and collect samples, and transmit video imagery.

Sun mentioned that China would also focus on developing robots to be used both inside and outside a space laboratory. "Although China presently doesn't have independent capability to construct a large space station, building a small space laboratory is within reach. Robots having tactile sensing capability and dexterous hands can diagnose malfunctions and perform automatic repairs."

"Countries such as U.S., Japan and Russia all have space robots. In key technology areas, China is not far behind. ... Currently we are studying teleoperation through virtual reality technology so that operators can control the robots from afar," said Sun.

Liang added, "Compared to terrestrial robots, space robots are more intelligent and autonomous, and can withstand radiation and other space effects."

China has carried out research and development on robotics for terrestrial use since 1986. As the national leader in "Project 863 Intelligent Robots", Harbin Industrial University in northeastern China has successfully developed robots to perform automatic packaging, welding, wall-climbing inspection and cleaning, as well as industrial robots and robots of nanometer size ("nanobots").

The new effort is the first time Chinese robotic technologies have been extended to space applications.

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