The rover has been designed in Russia but is being fabricated to Russians specs by Indian scientists.

IT Kanpur is developing three subsystems to provide mobility to the Indian rover to be placed on the moon by the Chandrayaan-2 lander.

• Stereophonic camera based 3D vision : The stereo vision cameras will provide the ground team controlling the rovers a 3D view of the surrounding terrain.
• Kinematic traction control : Kinematic traction control will enable the rover to negotiate the rough lunar terrain using independent steering provided on four of its wheels.
• Control and motor dynamics of the rover's six wheels : The rover will have six wheels each driven by an independent electrical motor. Four of the wheels will also be capable of independent steering. A total of 10 electrical motors will be used for traction and steering.

IIT Kanpur started working on the project in March 2009 and is scheduled to complete it by 2010 when the rover traction system will be handed over to ISRO for final testing and evaluation.

A significant part of the rover, including its communication package, is being fabricated in Kerala.

Previous Updates

• Chandrayaan-2 will have a unique robot developed indigenously by student-engineers and their professors at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Kanpur.

The 'SmartNav' robot being developed for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will help space scientists to navigate moon's surface during the manned moon mission and provide real-time data and pictures of the surface there.The two-legged robot, fitted with sophisticated sensors and high-resolution cameras, is capable of recording information and images using laser beams.

"We gave ISRO scientists a detailed presentation in January 2007. They have now have shown interest in our prototype. The organisation is seriously considering collaboration with us," said Susmit Sen, head centre for robotics at IIT-Kanpur.

• In November 2007, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Russia's Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) have signed an Agreement on joint lunar research and exploration. ISRO will have the prime responsibility for the Orbiter and Roskosmos will be responsible for the Lander/Rover.