Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41589947›Full record

ReviewBiomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Bioinspired Design for Space Robots: Enhancing Exploration Capability and Intelligence.

Guangming Chen, Xiang Lei, Shiwen Li, Gabriel Lodewijks, Rui Zhang, Meng Zou

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Guangming ChenCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China.
Xiang LeiCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China.
Shiwen LiCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China.
Gabriel LodewijksCollege of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6466-4346
Rui ZhangKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9933-2475
Meng ZouKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0498-4791

Funding

the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology NO. G2023181009Lthe International Joint Laboratory of Sustainable Manufacturing NO. NG2024001the National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 52275287the Opening Project of the Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering KF2023005
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Space exploration is a major global focus, advancing knowledge and exploiting new resources beyond Earth. Bioinspired design-drawing principles from nature-offers systematic pathways to increase the capability and intelligence of space robots. Prior reviews have emphasized on-orbit manipulators or lunar rovers, while a comprehensive treatment across application domains has been limited. This review synthesizes bioinspired capability and intelligence for space exploration under varied environmental constraints. We highlight four domains: adhesion and grasping for on-orbit servicing; terrain-adaptive mobility on granular and rocky surfaces; exploration intelligence that couples animal-like sensing with decision strategies; and design methodologies for translating biological functions into robotic implementations. Representative applications include gecko-like dry adhesives for debris capture, beetle-inspired climbers for truss operations, sand-moving quadrupeds and mole-inspired burrowers for granular regolith access, and insect flapping-wing robots for flight under Martian conditions. By linking biological analogues to quantitative performance metrics, this review highlights how bioinspired strategies can significantly improve on-orbit inspection, planetary mobility, subsurface access, and autonomous decision-making. Framed by capability and intelligence, bioinspired approaches reveal how biological analogues translate into tangible performance gains for on-orbit inspection, servicing, and long-range planetary exploration.

Indexed as

bioinspired locomotionbiomimetic designgranular soilplanetary explorationspace robotics

Identifiers

PMID41589947
PMCPMC12839354

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.