Dexter Robotics also offers a robotic lander/crawler based on Cling robot architecture that can fold itself during transportation, minimizing the space occupied within the rocket or mother spacecraft. During the deployment, the folded lander/crawler will expand itself to its functional shape. This reconfiguration is performed using minimal energy.
Space Lander
Our space lander can be used to perform observation during descent and after landing. During descent within the gravity field of the target planet/moon/asteroid, the lander has a self-orienting gimbal mechanism that adjusts the direction of the onboard cameras to always face the target planet/moon/asteroid and the space at the same time.
The onboard electronics and the main observation sensors including the cameras are placed in a container in the middle of the lander frame, making them protected during the impact upon landing. This allows the lander to continue performing the observation after landing.
Our space lander also has an option to be equipped with a drilling tool to collect a sample and subsequently observe and analyze the sample in-situ.
Space Crawler
Our space crawler offers hybrid locomotion for its mobility: (1) moving on wheels and (2) stepping/hopping. Each locomotion mode can be utilized to efficiently move the crawler depending on the terrain condition. For example, the crawler will move on wheels when the traversed terrain is quite solid, allowing the crawler to move fast. On the other hand, the crawler will move by stepping/hopping when the terrain is sandy, preventing the crawler from getting stuck.
The space crawler also has three-axis manipulation capability without using additional actuators, making the crawler an energy-efficient mobile robot for space exploration.