During a recent Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission to land the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) probe on the moon, a pair of tiny robots played a crucial role in documenting the landing. These robots, named LEV-1 and LEV-2, were released onto the lunar surface from SLIM as it approached a position just 5 meters above the ground.
The main purpose of these compact robots was to assist in the exploration and documentation of the lunar surface. LEV-2, which was as small as a baseball and weighed 250 grams, was designed to photograph the surroundings and send the captured images back to Earth. Even though there were some communication issues leading to partial data loss, the photos provided solid evidence of SLIM's successful landing on the moon.
One of the remarkable achievements during this mission was LEV-1's ability to hop across the moon's surface like a frog, employing a spring system for mobility. This unique method allowed LEV-1 to make several leaps, covering a significant distance and becoming the first robot to traverse a celestial body utilizing a hopping mechanism. The success of these robots marks a significant advancement in robotic exploration, with LEV-1 and LEV-2 being the first fully autonomous vehicles deployed for exploration without any assistance from Earth.