<p>The exploration of Small Celestial Bodies (SCBs) holds significant importance in understanding the evolution of the Solar System, the origin of life on Earth, and the development and utilization of resources. Rock sampling and in-situ analysis stand as effective exploration methods, while SCBs sampling robots (SCBSRs) aid in acquiring rock samples for on-site analysis or return missions. This article reviews past SCBs exploration missions and briefly analyzes current exploration methods. It systematically summarizes SCBSRs, encompassing their basic concepts, structural composition, and operational characteristics. Furthermore, it delves into the impact and challenges posed by the extreme spatial environments of SCBs and the influence of their unknown and intricate surface properties on SCBSRs, aiming to identify critical issues in their development. Finally, it provides a comprehensive overview of the technical trends of SCBSRs, covering technological innovations in SCBs exploration and sample collection, as well as prospects for application. SCBSRs have achieved significant milestones in the past, enriching our understanding of the universe. They will continue to innovate extraterrestrial surface exploration methods in even more fundamental ways, and greater achievements are underway.</p>