Yokogawa, Toyota working on lunar rover with Japan’s space agency

Yokogawa Electric Corp. agreed Sept. 22 to provide R&D and prototype measurement and control equipment for the Lunar Cruiser manned pressurized rover that’s being developed by Toyota Motor Corp. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The vehicle will be part of Japan's first standalone, manned space system, and it’s expected to expand exploration activities on the lunar surface. It will also have remote controls and the ability to operate without a crew, enabling continuous exploration of the lunar surface.

Their agreements cover design and procurement for prototype development, including conceptional studies by Yokogawa and Toyota for the rover’s control platform and battery-measurement components. Yokogawa and Toyota will continue development in preparation for launch in 2031 or later. Yokogawa also plans to explore new applications using technologies refined while developing Lunar Cruiser.

“We’re very excited to collaborate with Toyota on R&D of measurement and control equipment for the manned, pressurized rover, which will play a crucial role in enabling continuous lunar exploration. Yokogawa has positioned space as a key area for exploration in our medium-term business plan, Growth for Sustainability 2028, and we are developing opportunities in this field,” says Hidehito Shiratsu, head of space business development at Yokogawa. “We’re leveraging our strengths in measurement, control, and information technologies that have withstood Earth’s most extreme environments, including the polar regions and the deep sea. The technologies and insights gained through the development of products for the most extreme environment, outer space, will also be utilized to enhance the reliability of our existing products and services for earth-based industries.”