Two miniature robots, LEV-1 and LEV-2, made history during the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) moon landing mission. The robots documented the historic landing of JAXA's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) probe, making Japan the fifth country to land an unmanned spacecraft on the moon.
LEV-2, weighing just 250 grams, transformed after landing and captured images of SLIM, which had landed upside down. The data was transmitted to LEV-1, which relayed it back to Earth, providing definitive proof of SLIM's successful landing.
LEV-1, equipped with a hopping mechanism, made six leaps across the lunar surface, becoming the first robot to traverse a celestial body with gravity using a hopping device. This technology holds promise for future probes to navigate challenging terrain.
LEV-2, the smallest and lightest machine to operate on the moon, and LEV-1 worked together in simultaneous exploration, communicating with each other autonomously. This marked the first time fully autonomous vehicles had been used in space exploration without assistance from Earth.
The robots' missions have ended, but their data is being analyzed to inform future space exploration initiatives. The success of LEV-2, developed by Kimitaka Watanabe, demonstrates the potential of toy transformation technologies and other innovative approaches in space exploration.