Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Xiangjin Deng is a leading aerospace engineer whose work has been pivotal to China’s lunar exploration program, specializing in robotic drilling, sample acquisition, and extraterrestrial surface operations. He is best known as the principal designer of the 2-meter class robotic drill for the Chang’E-5 mission, which in December 2020 successfully penetrated one meter into the lunar regolith and retrieved 259.72 grams of samples—the first lunar material returned to Earth in over 40 years. His 2023 paper detailing the drill’s design, terrestrial validation, and on-moon performance has already garnered 20 citations, reflecting its foundational role in planetary sampling technology. Deng further advanced the field as a key architect of the Chang’E-6 mission, the world’s first successful sample return from the far side of the Moon, described in his 2025 technical paper. His contributions have directly enabled two historic robotic sampling campaigns, setting new benchmarks for autonomous drilling in extreme environments. Deng’s work is essential reading for researchers in space robotics, planetary science, and in-situ resource utilization.