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Toy manufacturer and entertainment company creating innovative play experiences
TOMY Company, Ltd. develops ultra-compact transformable lunar robots like SORA-Q (LEV-2), a spherical rover approximately 8cm in diameter and 250g, in collaboration with JAXA, Sony Group Corporation, and Doshisha University. It transforms to roll on the lunar surface, capturing images and gathering data on autonomous driving in 1/6th gravity for future crewed rover designs. Deployed via SLIM lander in January 2024.
Company facts
- Legal name
- Japan (Takara Tomy, JAXA, Doshisha University)
- HQ
- Tokyo, Japan
- Founded
- 1960 · 66 yrs
- Website
- www.takaratomy.co.jp/english
- View profile ↗
Trusted by
- JAXAdeployed 2024takaratomy.co.jp ↗
Milestones
SORA-Q captured photo of SLIM lander on lunar surface
SORA-Q deployed on Moon via JAXA SLIM mission
Press coverage
- SORA-Q, the Sony Spresense-Powered Transforming Robot, Heads Moonward
Hackster.io
- Toy Company TOMY Unveils Sora-Q Moon Exploration Robot
TechEBlog
- Mini Moon Rovers : Sora Q
Trend Hunter
- Sora-Q
Wikipedia
- SORA-Q to the Moon
Japan Space Law Association
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