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About

Meng Zou is a leading researcher in planetary robotics and terramechanics, whose work is shaping the future of extraterrestrial exploration. His primary research areas include biomimetic locomotion, robot–terrain interaction, and autonomous trafficability for extreme environments. Zou’s most notable contribution is the development of a biomimetic lizard robot designed to adapt to the challenging, soil-like terrain of the Martian surface—a solution to the immobilization problems that have historically plagued wheeled rovers. He has also pioneered estimation-based methods for quadruped robots to anticipate and avoid catastrophic failures in field operations, significantly advancing the safety and reliability of autonomous traversal. His work on biomimetic transition gaits for moving from level to sloping surfaces addresses a critical limitation of current rovers on the Moon and Mars. Zou’s research on the Chang’e 6 mission, where he predicted surface sampling depth on the lunar far side using contact indentation, demonstrates his direct impact on active space missions. With a growing citation record and a focus on solving real-world planetary exploration challenges, Zou is establishing himself as a key innovator in the next generation of space robotics.