Complex Environment Robot Motor Applications: From Space Exploration and Extraterrestrial Missions to Long-Term Unmanned Operation

With the continuous development of robotics technology, robots are gradually moving from traditional structured environments such as industrial manufacturing and warehouse logistics into more complex and open application scenarios.

In the past, robots were mainly used on industrial production lines with stable environments and fixed tasks. Today, robots are undertaking more complex missions, including:

• Aerospace exploration and extraterrestrial exploration

• Outdoor environment inspection

• High-risk area operations

• Confined space inspection

• Long-duration unmanned operation

Unlike traditional industrial environments with stable conditions and fixed tasks, complex environments are often accompanied by challenges such as extreme temperatures, irregular terrain, high-impact loads, limited installation space, and long-term continuous operation. These challenges place higher requirements on robotic drive systems.

As the core components of robotic motion systems, motors and actuators directly influence robot performance and task execution capabilities through their torque density, dynamic response, reliability, efficiency, and control performance.

Different application environments have different requirements for robotic drive systems. For example:

• Quadruped robots need to handle complex terrain and sudden impacts;

• Space robots focus more on precise motion and long-term reliability;

• Long-term inspection robots need to balance efficiency, service life, and stable operation.

Based on these differences, this article categorizes complex environment robot applications into five typical scenarios and analyzes robot characteristics, drive requirements, and key motor and actuator selection considerations through practical application cases.

What Are the Typical Applications of Robots in Complex Environments?

Complex environments cover a wide range of applications, from aerospace and extraterrestrial exploration to ground-based outdoor operations, high-risk tasks, and long-term unmanned monitoring.

Different scenarios have significant differences in environmental conditions and mission objectives. The following five categories represent typical application directions for robots operating in complex environments.

In these complex environments, robots not only need to complete motion tasks but also face challenges such as:

• Extreme temperature variations

• Irregular terrain

• High-impact loads

• Long-duration continuous operation

• Limited installation space

• High-precision motion control requirements

The following sections analyze these five application scenarios in detail, including environmental conditions, mission requirements, and corresponding drive system requirements.

Robot Applications in Aerospace, Extraterrestrial and Extreme Environments

Environmental Characteristics

Aerospace, extraterrestrial, and extreme environments are among the most technically challenging scenarios for robotic applications.

Compared with ordinary terrestrial environments, these scenarios usually involve special physical conditions, including:

• Vacuum environments

• Microgravity or low-gravity environments

• Extreme temperature variations

• Complex surface conditions

• Long-term operation without maintenance

Typical application environments include:

• Lunar exploration areas

• Mars surface

• Space stations

• Exterior surfaces of spacecraft

• Polar environments

• High-temperature industrial areas

Once deployed in these environments, robots are usually difficult to maintain manually. Therefore, drive systems must have the capability to operate reliably over extended periods.

Typical Robot Applications

Extraterrestrial Exploration Robots

Extraterrestrial exploration robots are mainly used to perform:

• Surface mobility

• Terrain analysis

• Environmental detection

• Sample collection

Due to complex terrain and unknown obstacles in extraterrestrial environments, robots need strong motion adaptability.

Space Robotic Arms

Space robotic arms are widely used for:

• Space equipment maintenance

• Component installation

• Object transportation

• Precision operations

Robotic arm joints must simultaneously achieve high positioning accuracy and long-term operational reliability.

Extreme Environment Inspection Robots

In high-temperature, low-temperature, or hazardous industrial environments, robots can replace humans to perform:

• Equipment inspection

• Condition monitoring

• Data collection

Reducing the risks associated with personnel entering dangerous areas.

Key Requirements for Motors and Actuators

High Torque Density

Due to weight and energy limitations, robots need to achieve higher output capability within a limited mass.High torque density helps robots to:

• Reduce overall weight

• Improve payload capacity

• Optimize energy utilization

Low Inertia Design

Low inertia actuators can improve the response speed of robotic joints.For applications such as:

• Robotic arms

• Precision operating mechanisms

• High-dynamic robots

Low inertia design can improve control performance.

High Reliability

Extreme environment robots are usually difficult to maintain. Therefore, drive systems need to provide:

• Long service life

• Stable operation

• Good mechanical reliability

Precise Control Capability

Space operations and precision tasks usually require:

• High positioning accuracy

• Stable torque output

• Excellent motion control capability

Thermal Management Capability

Extreme temperatures can affect:

• Motor windings

• Bearings

• Electronic components

Therefore, temperature rise control and heat dissipation design need to be considered comprehensively.

Application Case

Case Link：A Jumping Robot for Martian Lava Tube Exploration

With the increasing interest in Mars exploration, lava tubes have attracted significant scientific attention as potential resources and future habitats.However, these complex and large underground spaces present severe challenges to traditional exploration technologies.

The jumping robot was specifically designed for Mars lava tube exploration. Its core design objective is to use jumping as the primary locomotion method while maintaining walking capability to adapt to complex terrain and extreme environments.

The robot adopts a five-bar parallel mechanism as its leg structure to optimize vertical jumping performance under Mars’ low-gravity environment.

The design focuses on an efficient power system and lightweight structure while integrating spring-assisted jumping and energy recovery systems to achieve continuous jumping capability.

In terms of the drive system, the robot selected the CubeMars AK70-10 KV100 robotic actuator to provide driving force for the leg parallel mechanism.This actuator features:

• Peak torque of 24.8 Nm

• 10:1 planetary gear reduction structure

• Integrated encoder

• Support for 1 MHz CAN-bus communication

These features provide power support for joint movements during jumping and walking operations while facilitating motion control and system integration.

By combining the AK70-10 KV100 actuator with a lightweight parallel leg mechanism, spring-assisted jumping, and energy recovery design, the robot achieves a balance between the power output required for jumping motion and overall structural requirements.

This case demonstrates that motor selection for extraterrestrial exploration robots requires comprehensive consideration of:

• Peak torque

• Transmission structure

• Weight

• Control interface

• Energy limitations

More Case Studies：CubeMars Powers Binghamton Univ. Rover Team for URC

Robot Applications in Harsh Outdoor and Unstructured Environments

Environmental Characteristics

Compared with industrial environments, outdoor environments are more complex, with uncertainty being their most significant characteristic.Robots may encounter:

• Mountains

• Deserts

• Gobi environments

• Forests

• Snow-covered areas

• Muddy terrain

• Rocky surfaces

These environments usually do not have fixed paths, requiring robots to adjust their motion status according to real-time environmental conditions.

Typical Robot Applications

Quadruped Robots

Quadruped robots achieve:

• Walking

• Running

• Obstacle crossing

• Climbing slopes

through coordinated movements of multiple joints.Their leg actuators need to continuously adjust output to maintain body stability.

Outdoor Inspection Robots

Main applications include:

• Power facility inspection

• Pipeline inspection

• Outdoor environment monitoring

• Infrastructure inspection

Unmanned Transport Robots

Applications include:

• Outdoor logistics

• Material transportation in special areas

• Unmanned operation platforms

Key Requirements for Motors and Actuators

High Peak Torque

Robots require large instantaneous output in situations such as:

• Obstacle crossing

• Climbing slopes

• Posture recovery

• Rapid start-up

Fast Dynamic Response

Especially for legged robots, actuators need to respond quickly to:

• Motion control commands

• Ground condition changes

• Posture adjustments

Impact Resistance

Complex terrain may cause:

• Collisions

• Falls

• Sudden load changes

Therefore, the drive system needs to have sufficient mechanical strength and impact resistance.

High Efficiency

Outdoor robots are usually powered by batteries.Improving drive efficiency can:

• Extend operating time

• Reduce energy consumption

Application Case

Case Link：CubeMars Powers the University of Minnesota's Agricultural Quadruped Robot Dog

With the rapid development of precision agriculture, obtaining comprehensive and high-accuracy crop growth data has become a key challenge.

A breakthrough achievement from the Agricultural Robotics Laboratory at the University of Minnesota is an agricultural quadruped robot designed specifically for complex farmland environments.

This robotic dog uses the CubeMars AK70-10 joint motor as its core power source.

It successfully overcomes the physical limitations of traditional drones and wheeled agricultural machinery, allowing it to enter dense corn fields and collect accurate data on pests, diseases, and nutrient conditions beneath the crop canopy.

This technology provides an important solution for three-dimensional agricultural inspection in modern smart farming.

More Case Studies：Kemba: A Quadrupedal Robot Combining Power and Precision Control

Robot Applications in High-Risk and Special Operation Environments

Environmental Characteristics

Some working environments involve significant risks and are unsuitable for direct human access.Typical environments include:

• Disaster areas

• Firefighting zones

• Nuclear facilities

• Chemical industrial areas

• High-risk industrial environments

Robots can replace humans in inspection, rescue, and operational tasks, improving workplace safety.

Typical Robot Applications

Search and Rescue Robots

Main tasks include:

• Disaster area search

• Environmental detection

• Material transportation

Hazardous Area Inspection Robots

Applications include:

• Industrial equipment inspection

• Condition monitoring

• Automated patrol

Special Operation Robots

Including:

• Remote operation platforms

• Robots designed for special environments

Key Requirements for Motors and Actuators

High Reliability

Robots need to continuously complete tasks in complex environments.

Impact Resistance

When facing collisions or abnormal load changes, robots need to maintain motion capability.

Precise Motion Control

For robotic arms and operating mechanisms, accurate action execution is required.

Long-Term Operation Capability

Some missions require extended operation periods, requiring attention to:

• Temperature rise

• Efficiency

• Service life

Application Case

Case Link：Gorilla Mk1 Robot: Powered by CubeMars Motors, Paving the Way for New Heights in Overhead Line Maintenance

In the field of high-altitude high-voltage power transmission maintenance, human live-line operations have always involved significant safety risks.

The Gorilla Mk1 robot developed for high-voltage transmission line operations uses advanced technology and a precision drive system to provide improved safety and efficiency for power line maintenance and inspection.

The robot uses CubeMars RI80 V2.0 frameless torque motors as an important component of its drive system.

The Gorilla Mk1 robot is equipped with four CubeMars RI80 V2.0 inner rotor frameless torque motors.

The high precision and high power performance of these motors enable the robot to operate stably and safely on transmission lines while providing strong traction and high load capability for complex working environments.

These motors also provide reliable power output for the robot’s precision control system, allowing it to flexibly adjust applied forces during operation on power lines and maximize operational safety and efficiency.

More Case Studies：GL60II Hollow Gimbal Motor Powering RoboMaster Engineering Robots

Robot Applications in Confined Spaces and Highly Integrated Environments

Environmental Characteristics

Some robots need to enter areas with limited available space, such as:

• Inside pipelines

• Inside equipment

• Internal structures of aerospace systems

• Small robotic platforms

The biggest challenge for these applications is achieving sufficient motion capability within a limited space.

Typical Robot Applications

Pipeline Inspection Robots

Used for:

• Pipeline condition inspection

• Defect detection

• Data collection

Miniature Inspection Robots

Applied for:

• Inspection in narrow spaces

• Internal equipment examination

Small Robotic Arms

Used for:

• Precision operations

• Assembly tasks in confined spaces

Key Requirements for Motors and Actuators

Miniaturized Design

Robots operating in limited spaces need to reduce:

• Motor size

• System weight

High Torque Density

The drive system needs to provide sufficient output within limited volume.

High Integration Level

Actuators usually need to integrate:

• Motor

• Encoder

• Control components

Reducing overall system complexity.

Flexible Structural Design

Some applications require:

• Hollow structures

• Special installation methods

• Customized designs

Application Case

Case Link：CubeMars AK Motors Power Legacy V2 4-Wheel Independent Steering Rover

In complex terrain exploration and narrow-space inspection missions, chassis mobility often determines mission success.

The Legacy V2 four-wheel independent steering exploration vehicle chassis adopts an innovative four-wheel steering and four-wheel drive (4WS4WD) architecture.

It is equipped with CubeMars AK series actuators as the core power and actuator units.

The system successfully achieves:

• Zero-radius in-place rotation

• Lateral movement

• Omni-directional mobility capability

providing exceptional flexibility for special exploration tasks.

More Case Studies：KLEIYN Quadruped Wall-Climbing Robot Powered by CubeMars

Robot Applications in Long-Term Unmanned Operation Environments

Environmental Characteristics

With the development of automation technology, an increasing number of robots need to be deployed in areas where manual maintenance is difficult.Typical environments include:

• Unmanned mining areas

• Remote regions

• Infrastructure facilities

• Long-distance inspection areas

These robots usually need to reduce manual maintenance requirements and improve long-term operational capability.

Typical Robot Applications

Automated Inspection Robots

Used for:

• Equipment inspection

• Condition monitoring

• Data collection

Mobile Monitoring Platforms

Used for:

• Environmental monitoring

• Automated patrol

Unmanned Transport Robots

Used for:

• Long-distance transportation

• Automated logistics

Key Requirements for Motors and Actuators

High Efficiency

During long-term operation, reducing energy consumption is essential.

Long Service Life

Important factors include:

• Mechanical wear

• Temperature rise

• Continuous operation capability

Low Maintenance Requirements

Reducing manual maintenance costs improves equipment availability.

Stable Operation

Drive systems need to maintain consistent performance over long operating periods.

Application Case

Case Link：CubeMars RI80 Powers Transgrid's Transmission Line Inspection Robot

In high-altitude high-voltage power grid maintenance, manual live-line operations have always involved significant safety risks.

The high-voltage transmission line inspection robot developed by Transgrid Australia innovatively adopts a rover-inspired suspension system based on NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance design concept.

The robot uses CubeMars RI80 high-performance joint motors as the core power source.

It can:

• Move autonomously on high-voltage transmission lines

• Perform precise climbing operations

• Easily cross different cable fittings

By applying robotic technology, this system reduces the need for humans to perform dangerous high-altitude live-line operations.

Conclusion: Key Factors in Selecting Motors for Complex Environment Robots

Motor selection for complex environment robots cannot focus only on individual parameters such as peak torque and speed.Instead, it requires comprehensive evaluation based on:

• Actual operating environment

• Robot mission requirements

• Mechanical structure

• Control requirements

When selecting motors or actuators, the following factors should be considered:

• Environmental adaptability

• Matching between mission requirements and performance

• Torque, speed, and duty cycle

• Mechanical structure and integration requirements

• Control capability and long-term reliability

Only through proper matching between motors, actuators, mechanical structures, and control systems can robots achieve stable, efficient, and reliable operation in complex environments.