Japan (a government panel of Waseda University) has recently announced that it is going to send robots to the moon to create a moon base. This obviously has come after America announces that it is not going to bother with the moon just yet and I expect that Japan will take full advantage of the opportunity to try and get one step ahead.
The moon is a relatively big place though and I expect there will be a landing spot for all. Japan believes that a moon base is needed to explore the solar system. The robots will be sent first to take pictures of the surface for the proposed moon base and return rock samples. Eventually different types of robots will be sent to the moon to construct the moon base at the South pole with a completion date set for 2020.
The robots would be controlled from the ground and may eventually prepare the way for human settlers. I would bet that Japan with its extremely high tech industry will in one way or another make this a reality.
Robot Moon Base
A moon base is long overdue. What’s taking them so long? Wasn’t that show called “Space:1999?”
That takes me back a bit!]