Gen Sakoda

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About

Gen Sakoda is a key figure in the development of autonomous robotics for lunar exploration, with a focused expertise in the control systems of compact, transformable rovers. His most notable contribution is the design and autonomous control of the Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2), a groundbreaking nano rover developed for JAXA’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission. This work, detailed in his 2024 paper, addresses the critical challenge of achieving high mobility and maneuverability in extremely small, mass-constrained platforms for planetary surface operations. By enabling a rover to autonomously navigate and transform its shape on the lunar surface, Sakoda’s research directly supports the future of in-situ scientific investigation and sample return. While his highly specialized work has garnered 3 citations to date, its significance lies in its direct application to a landmark JAXA mission, positioning Sakoda as a rising engineer at the forefront of autonomous space robotics and the practical realization of agile, small-scale planetary explorers.