China is preparing robot dogs for the Moon, and on Earth it has already opened the first 'school' for training and certifying robots

China is testing specialized robot dogs for exploring lunar caves — places that could be used in the future for establishing a permanent base on the Moon. In parallel, the country is developing infrastructure for training robots on Earth: in Hangzhou, an unusual "school" has started operating, where the first intake of about 30 machines is learning to perform specific work tasks — from sports and technical operations to caring for people.

At first glance, these projects are unrelated. However, both show the same approach: China is trying to move from flashy robot demonstrations to preparing them for real work in specific environments.

Why robot dogs are needed on the Moon

Researchers at Peking University have developed two specialized quadruped robots for studying complex underground terrain. Testing is taking place not on the Moon, but in a lava cave near Jingbo Lake in northeastern China.

The location was not chosen by chance. Underground cavities created by ancient lava flows resemble the so-called lava tubes that also exist on the Moon. These are of interest to scientists as a possible site for future lunar infrastructure. On the lunar surface, equipment and future astronauts face extreme temperature swings and strong radiation. Conditions in underground cavities are potentially more stable. Therefore, before sending people there, it is necessary to learn how to explore such spaces with autonomous machines.

How the robots differ from each other

The Peking University team has created two prototypes with different tasks. One is equipped with powerful front limbs and a robotic manipulator. It is designed not only for movement, but also for working with objects, studying the soil, and performing more complex operations. The second robot has a more flexible design and is intended primarily for moving over uneven terrain and exploring the environment.

Such specialization is important: a universal robot that can equally well walk, dig, lift objects, and overcome obstacles is technically much more complex. Therefore, for future space missions, groups of machines with different functions may be used.

Why researchers are interested in caves

Lunar lava tubes have long been considered potential natural shelters. On the open surface, a future base would need to protect people and equipment from radiation, micrometeorites, and extreme temperatures. Underground, part of this protection is provided by the geology itself.

However, first it is necessary to understand how stable such structures are, how far they extend, and whether equipment can be safely placed there. Here, small autonomous robots have an obvious advantage over humans: they can be sent into an unknown tunnel without risk to the crew.

This is part of China's larger lunar project

Robot tests are taking place amid the acceleration of China's lunar program. China plans to send its astronauts to the lunar surface around 2030. The next stage should be the International Lunar Research Station, which China is developing together with Russia and a number of other partners. Its construction is planned for the 2030s.

Such a project will require not only rockets and landing modules, but also autonomous technology capable of scouting territory, transporting equipment, studying soil, and working where it is difficult or dangerous for humans to reach.

On Earth, robots have already been sent to "school"

In parallel, China is addressing another problem of modern robotics: building a machine is not enough — it also needs to be taught to perform specific work. In late June, the country's first comprehensive platform for professional robot training and certification began operating in Hangzhou.

The project was organized by the Robotics Institute of Zhejiang University, the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Quality, and the Chengxi Sci-Tech Innovation Corridor in Hangzhou. The first intake consisted of about 30 robots — including both humanoid machines and quadruped robot dogs. They even created a system resembling conventional education: admission, assignment to tracks, courses, exams, and a certificate upon completion.

What machines are taught

Programs are divided according to the robots' future specialization. Some train in sports — for example, learning to play table tennis and recognize the trajectory of the ball. Others master technical and engineering operations. There are also directions for art and medical care.

Companion robots are taught to recognize human emotional signals and respond to them: for example, keep a conversation going if a person is upset. After completing training, the robot is supposed to receive its own skills certificate and a digital identifier that allows tracking its further work.

Why robots need a separate school at all

The main challenge of modern robotics is no longer just mechanics. Companies know how to build machines that walk, run, lift objects, and perform pre-arranged demonstrations. It is much harder to teach them to work reliably in unpredictable real-world environments.

For example, a robot in a factory must distinguish parts, respond correctly to changes in object positions, and interact with people. A robot for elderly care faces an even more complex environment where it is impossible to pre-program every situation. That is why training centers are emerging in China, where machines repeatedly practice real operations and collect data for further learning.

From table tennis to lunar caves

Chinese robots are not yet going directly from the classroom to the Moon. But both projects show the general direction of the industry's development. The main question is gradually shifting from "can a robot walk or perform a trick?" to "can it reliably perform useful work where it is needed?".

On Earth, such places are becoming factories, hospitals, and homes. On the Moon — potentially caves, craters, and future research bases. And if China's plans come to fruition, part of the infrastructure for the next stage of lunar exploration could be built and surveyed by machines long before humans are permanently present there.

Based on materials from: Peking University, National Bureau of Statistics of China, China Daily