Chinaâ€� moon landing and rover tip of iceberg Yutu ( Jade Rabbit€) China rover-like robot was soft-landed on the moon earlier this month.  China plans to become a global leader in robotics and space exploration are just beginning to be seen.Yutu is a 6-wheeled rover. It  has 4 cameras and 2 digging arms for sampling of lunar soil and dust and can travel at 1/8 of a mile per hour. During it €� 3-month exploration it will search for natural resources and rare elements such as titanium and uranium.The Sunday Times (UK) said: �China conducts about 18 launches a year and sent its first astronaut into orbit in 2003. In its most recent manned space mission in June three astronauts spent 15 days in orbit and docked with a space laboratory. Their mission was part of Beijing quest to open a permanent space station in Earth orbit within the next decade. €On the non-military/space frontier China €� 12th 5-Year Plan targeted robotics as a growth industry necessary for China €� development. It expects a compound growth rate of 25% said Wang Weiming deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The ministry has set up incentives and 5 geographical areas for Chinese companies to develop (and improve the quality of) their robot products and capabilities. The ambitious plan includes a goal of 30% to be produced with homegrown technologies Wang said. In addition to Shanghai Beijing Guangzhou and Chengdu authorities in Liaoning province are constructing a robot industrial complex in which they expect revenues of $8 billion for robots and other automation equipment by 2017.A quick look at all the ongoing research projects at the  Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang Institute of Automation  shows their interest in space search and rescue 3D bio-printing eldercare robots and a variety of other up-and-coming robotic endeavours.If you liked this article you may also be interested in:See all the latest robotics news on Robohub.