China to Send Robot Dogs to the Moon: They Will Mine Water, Build Housing and Support Crews

Chinese engineers from the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering have proposed a concept for a lunar base with a permanent presence, where robot dogs would be integral members. A key novelty is that the robots would be able to communicate with humans and provide moral support during isolation. The researchers argue that the Moon's conditions - low gravity, strong radiation, extreme temperature swings, abrasive dust and communication delay with Earth - make long-term human-only crews too risky. Therefore, the base would divide duties: humans make decisions in unusual situations and perform fine operations, while autonomous machines handle heavy, repetitive and dangerous tasks. One scenario describes a three-astronaut expedition: one crew member controls two quadruped robots that scout ahead and identify hazards, a second works on the surface collecting samples, and a third stays in a sealed mobile module monitoring the mission. The robots would also handle life support, scientific experiments, resource utilization and maintenance, including searching for water ice, mining minerals, building structures from local materials, and preparing lava tubes as protected habitats. They could also monitor air quality, clean, tend plants, cook, and act as companions to reduce psychological stress. The control system would use a four-level information architecture and four levels of human-robot interaction. This concept is part of China's International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program, with a base planned near the lunar south pole by 2035 and a larger infrastructure with an orbital station by 2045.