South Korean researchers at KAIST have developed origami-inspired rover wheels designed to explore the moon’s lava tubes, with plans to deploy them on a 2030 lunar mission. The wheels, made from fire-resistant steel, can shrink to 9 inches for launch and expand to 20 inches on the moon’s surface.
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) have unveiled origami-inspired rover wheels capable of moving through the moon’s challenging terrain, including its lava tubes. The design, developed over three years by PhD candidate Seong-bin Lee and Professor Dae-Young Lee, uses interwoven flexible strips of high-carbon steel to create a deployable, airless wheel. The technology aims to support South Korea’s planned 2030 lunar lander mission, with testing already conducted in Jeju Island’s lava tubes and simulated lunar regolith.
Origami Design Tackles Lunar Terrain
The wheels’ structure mimics a Da Vinci bridge, a self-supporting system held together by gravity and friction, combined with origami’s shape-changing ability. The key point of origami is the feature of shape-changing ability,
Lee explained. The design allows the wheels to shrink from 20 inches to 9 inches in diameter, fitting inside a lunar lander, then expand to traverse the moon’s surface. Made from fire-resistant steel, the wheels can withstand temperature swings of over 500°F, a critical factor for lunar exploration.
Testing has included simulations of lunar regolith, extreme temperatures, and mud, with the team also evaluating a smaller prototype in lab conditions. The wheels’ flexibility and durability aim to address challenges posed by the moon’s steep slopes and drop-offs, which make accessing lava tubes difficult. It’s hoped a rover with these origami-inspired wheels will explore the moon’s lava tubes,
a source noted, highlighting their potential to uncover underground tunnels formed by ancient volcanic activity.
AI Enhances Rover Development
Yiseub Yun, a KAIST master’s student, is using artificial intelligence to refine the rover’s design, using reinforcement learning to teach it how to move autonomously. I think that adaptiveness of AI can help space exploration,
Yun said. This work aligns with South Korea’s broader space ambitions, including a 2027 budget request of 1.65 trillion won ($1.2 billion) for space development—a 47% increase from 2026.
Seong-bin Lee, reflecting on the project’s inspiration, said, Since I was young, I got big inspiration from people that challenge themselves. I admired those who challenge themselves, even despite knowing that it’s going to be a tough path. And I’m striving to be like them.
The rover-wheel initiative is part of KAIST’s funded projects under KASA, which has motivated students to push technological boundaries.
Lunar Exploration Gains New Tools
South Korea’s involvement in space exploration is being heightened by the development, building on NASA’s Viper rover (set for 2027) and the European Space Agency’s MAGPIE mission. KAIST’s wheels could enable new insights into lunar geology and potential future human colonization, as lava tubes might offer natural shelters from radiation and extreme temperatures. The project’s success could also influence global lunar exploration strategies, emphasizing innovative, lightweight, and adaptable technologies.
As South Korea advances its space program, the origami-inspired rover wheels represent a blend of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge engineering, poised to play an important role in humanity’s next steps on the moon.