Within the scope of the Chang-8 mission, METU cooperated with the Chinese Space Agency (CNSA), Zhejiang University and Star.vision.
The mission covers the plan for China’s discovery of the South Pole of the Moon and the plan to determine where the country will be built in the 2030s.
In this context, METU Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technologies Research and Application Center (ROMER) will be developed by researchers “Cheri” within the scope of the project, the two micro -discovery vehicles will interact with each other in the south pole of the Moon will collect scientific data, perform analysis and artificial intelligence support by identifying its own routes by autonomously.
It is aimed to send the vehicles planned to be about 5 kilograms of weight at the end of 2028 to the South Pole of the Moon. Türkiye, thus the 6th country that sends a reconnaissance vehicle to the South Pole of the Moon will be the first country to send two discovery vehicles at the same time.
“We also have ideas like using the moon soil and making structures there”
Prototype The AA correspondent about the vehicles created and the work carried out in the statements of the Deputy Director of METU Romer Assoc. Dr. Mustafa Mert Ankara said that the center was established in 2019 and that they carry out research and development activities in almost every section of the robotic field.
Stating that the project is exciting to implement the project, Ankara, emphasized that they are seriously working on the issue.
In China, this year at the “Space Day” event that they had the opportunity to go to the South Pole of the Moon, “two robots will be there for the first time within the scope of space tasks. The Moon will do reconnaissance tasks. Artificial intelligence -supported work and scientific and technological contribution to our country.” he said.
Underlining that this project is an important step for the country, Ankara, “We think that we will come to better points. Mars, asteroids or space more comprehensive, larger robots to send, to the next point to bring them to the Earth, such as examining them or moon land, such as making three -dimensional structures.” he said.
“The South Pole of the Moon is a very interesting point”
METU Aeronautics and Space Engineering Department faculty member and conductor of the project Assoc. Dr. Halil Ersin Söken told that they had identified the name of the two discovery robots “Cheri” to be sent to the Moon.
Emphasizing that this will be the first space mission of the two robots interactively on the Moon, Söken said:
“There is a private company named Star.vision, which we are currently cooperating with. This company produces more processors with artificial intelligence capacity for satellites in space, and they have already applied and tested them on the satellites. We aim to map the surface of the Moon in three dimensions. “
Pointing out that the area aimed at landing on the South Pole of the Moon has challenging terrain conditions, Söken said:
“The South Pole of the Moon is actually a very interesting point. Especially NASA suspected the existence of ice -shaped water here with a spacecraft in orbit. But on the one hand, it is very difficult to operate, use and advance the rover here because of its highly crater structure and difficult enlightenment conditions.
In this sense, we aim to achieve one of the first. So far, there is no Rover that can do this task, that is, the south pole of the Moon. We do not know if there would be another vehicle to achieve this until 2028, we aim to be the first country to move forward in the south pole of the Moon. There may be countries that will send different vehicles until this year, but there are currently 5 countries that can send rover to the Moon. We plan to become the 6th country by performing this task successfully. Together with this task, we aim to be the first country to run two rover on the surface of the Moon at the same time. “
“It will provide great data in terms of understanding the geography of the Moon”
Currently, the vehicles circulating in the moon orbit are trying to create a three -dimensional map with different scientific methods, and the three -dimensional work made by making the equivalent plane with the ground forms of the Moon. will provide. ” shared his knowledge.
Emphasizing that space research is clear, Söken said, “Now we have started to talk about life stations on Mars or different issues such as asteroid mining. After proved ourselves with such a task, I believe that it is much more clear in terms of cooperation with both national and international stakeholders.” evaluated.
“Türkiye has come to their interest in their interest”
Rector of METU Dr. Ahmet Yozgatlıgil stated that the project was implemented with international cooperation and that the two vehicles will conduct research on the moon surface of the moon surface in terms of mapping, navigation and image obtaining images.
Yozgatlıgil explained that two robots communicating with each other were supported by artificial intelligence and gave the following information:
“The fact that the two robots work in the south pole of the Moon as a spouse is a first in the world. The South Pole is a place where the temperature difference is too high and we will perform these tasks under difficult conditions. Türkiye’s point, the technologies it has developed and its technologies attracted their attention and accepted us to their Chang-8 mission.”
Yozgatlıgil underlined that “Cheri” is a project carried out by METU with students and faculty members between campuses and said that TÜBİTAK Space supports the project.
Saying that they will cooperate with many companies in the industry, Yozgatlıgil said, “Thanks to this project, we will realize Türkiye on the surface of the Moon in 2028. We have targets for the Moon within the scope of the National Space Program. Our first goal is to go hard to the Moon and work on this issue. he said.
“We conduct research on inter -planetary communication”
Prof. Dr. Yozgatlıgil pointed out that there are many projects under the leadership of METU and said:
“There are currently the international projects that we are walking and offer. For example, inter -planetary communication. Today, 5G, 6G and beyond, we are conducting research on inter -planetary communication in our Solar System.
Many of our projects like this continue, new ones will be added and we will realize very important projects about space. In Türkiye’s National Space Program, there is the establishment of a specialized technology development zone in space in the field of space in cooperation with METU, and our Minister of Industry and Technology made a statement recently. METU will establish a technology development zone in the field of space and many companies and universities will conduct research in the field of space. “
