Toyota will no longer be limited to the production of conventional vehicles.
It became known that the famous manufacturer was entrusted with the creation of the first Japanese lunar rover.
Toyota will build the lunar rover in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). A plan has already been made public, according to which development will start this year and will continue until 2027. The company hopes to put the rover into service in 2029.
The first stage involves joint research with JAXA. In 2019, all technological stages will be considered, what exactly needs to be developed for movement on the surface of the Moon, and drawings of the rover prototype will be created. In 2020, all the necessary test parts will be made, from which the prototype will be assembled. Finally, in 2021, the first trials and tests will begin.
In 2022 Toyota will produce and evaluate a full-scale rover prototype, as well as further evaluate drive systems. By 2024, in addition to the engineering model, a full-fledged design of the lunar rover will be developed. Finally, a flight-ready version will be produced and tested in 2027. The flight itself is scheduled for 2029.
So far, Toyota has not provided any specific information, limiting itself to a few concept renderings showing a six-wheeled vehicle designed for two astronauts. It will be about the size of two minibuses. It is planned that hydrogen fuel cells will be used to propel it.
To achieve these goals, the company has already created a department that will deal exclusively with this development. It is expected that by the end of 2019, 30 people will work in it.