Chinese researchers have proposed a semi-humanoid robot mounted on a wheeled platform as part of key infrastructure for the country’s lunar research station slated to take shape by 2035.

Combining mobility with humanlike dexterity, the robot is designed to move across the lunar surface while carrying out delicate operations, from construction and maintenance to scientific experiments, sampling and analysis, according to researchers from the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering.

Its waist can rotate about 180 degrees in either direction and bend forward up to 90 degrees, while its nimble hand has four degrees of freedom, allowing it to perform precise manipulation, the team reported in the Journal of Deep Space Exploration in December.

“Compared with bipedal walking, a wheeled active suspension moves faster and is more stable, providing a steady platform for work by the upper body,” the researchers wrote. “China’s Yutu lunar rovers and Zhurong Mars rover have both used wheeled locomotion.”

The wheels will adopt a metal mesh structure with steel-wire treads, making them lightweight and durable while providing flexibility, shock absorption and reliable performance in extreme cold, enabling smooth long-distance travel across the rugged lunar surface, the researchers said.

Humanoid or semi-humanoid robots have long been explored for space operations. Robonaut, jointly developed by Nasa and General Motors, became the first humanoid robot deployed in space when it was sent to the International Space Station in 2011.

Mounted inside the station – rather than designed to move around – Robonaut assisted astronauts with routine or hazardous work, operating tools and performing specific maintenance tasks in microgravity.