Nissan reveals prototype lunar rover
Capitalism in space: Nissan today unveiled its first prototype design of an unmanned lunar rover, built for the Japanese space agency JAXA.
Nissan Motor Co. unveiled Thursday a prototype of a lunar rover co-developed with Japan’s space exploration agency that will employ the automaker’s motor control technology to maneuver across the Moon’s loose terrain. The automaker said it aims to make the rover capable of traversing the undulating Moon surface smoothly by applying technology developed for use in its roadgoing electric vehicles such as the Leaf and Ariya.
The picture of the prototype at the link is, to put it mildly, not impressive. It uses rubber tires, and is really nothing more than a control box attached to four tires.
JAXA apparently also has Toyota working on a competitive project. The competition should therefore eventually produce something worthwhile.
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Capitalism in space: Nissan today unveiled its first prototype design of an unmanned lunar rover, built for the Japanese space agency JAXA.
Nissan Motor Co. unveiled Thursday a prototype of a lunar rover co-developed with Japan’s space exploration agency that will employ the automaker’s motor control technology to maneuver across the Moon’s loose terrain. The automaker said it aims to make the rover capable of traversing the undulating Moon surface smoothly by applying technology developed for use in its roadgoing electric vehicles such as the Leaf and Ariya.
The picture of the prototype at the link is, to put it mildly, not impressive. It uses rubber tires, and is really nothing more than a control box attached to four tires.
JAXA apparently also has Toyota working on a competitive project. The competition should therefore eventually produce something worthwhile.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
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Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
I’m unimpressed, a child’s wagon would be more stable, A prototype similar to a electric motorcycle four wheeler was what I was expecting.
Any college student involved in robot wars could do better.
The wheels with the exposed wiring should’ve been attached directly to the control box would been far more stable, lighter, better protected, lower center of gravity with more maneuverability and less likely to break a wheel off like the one that is bending in the right front of the picture.
It would seem a independent suspension is too much to ask for? It looks like it would have difficulty maneuvering down a smooth hallway without rocks, let alone a stairwell. And those tires are off-the-shelf? What would happen if you take them from a 250° oven and drop them in liquid nitrogen? (The moon is 300° below zero at night)
A South Korean car company just bought out this company featured on 60 minutes, perhaps they should give it a try. 13min Boston dynamics.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns__YpRneBA&pp=QAFIAQ%3D%3D
Could you just imagine Elon musks starship landing on the moon, then all these robots start dancing on the surface while a Tesla truck self drives around in the background? (how do you upstage an interplanetary astronaut in a Tesla?)
The Chinese have already produced an army of knock offs…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NK0awoO9wQI
I’ll buy a Honda, thank you