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About

Dr. Yong Pang is a leading figure in extraterrestrial robotics, whose work has directly advanced humanity’s ability to explore and sample other worlds. His primary research focuses on bioinspired planetary burrowing robots and the mechanics of regolith sampling, with a particular emphasis on the challenges of drilling in low-gravity, granular environments. Dr. Pang’s most significant contribution is his central role in the Chinese Chang’E 5 lunar sample-return mission. He co-authored the definitive paper detailing the design and terrestrial validation of the 2-meter robotic drill that, in December 2020, successfully penetrated one meter into the lunar surface and collected 259.72 grams of pristine regolith—a feat that has garnered 20 citations and stands as a landmark achievement in space robotics. His broader impact is evident in his highly cited review on extraterrestrial regolith-sampling robots (79 citations) and his work on bioinspired burrowing systems (47 citations). Dr. Pang has also pushed the boundaries of autonomous drilling by developing real-time prediction models for drilling forces using recurrent neural networks, enabling safer and more efficient operations on the Moon. Through his combination of fundamental mechanics, bio-inspired design, and direct mission success, Dr. Pang has established himself as a key architect of modern planetary sampling technology.