Kawasaki Unveils Corleo: The Futuristic AI-Powered Robot Horse

This 'robot horse' could take you up a mountain, but not until 2050

The robot has four legs that can move independently and are equipped with inward-facing knees and rubber two-toed cloven hooves, similar to a goat's. (Image credit: Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. Retrieved from Youtube) A new type of robot inspired by an animal has been unveiled -- and this time, it's a horse. Corleo, a hydrogen-powered robot with four legs designed to be ridden by humans, has been announced by Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries at a showcase event ahead of the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, which starts April 13. However, the robot is still in its concept phase of development; a functioning prototype has not been made public. This robot, unlike previous animal-shaped bots such as Boston Dynamics' dog Spot, is designed for people to ride it as the machinery uses artificial intelligence (AI) and specially designed legs to navigate complex terrains. A promotional video released by Kawasaki on April 3 shows Corleo clambering down rocky cliffs, weaving through an overgrown woodland, bounding across a snowy landscape and wading through a stream. This video is not real footage, however, as the robot has not yet been fully developed to the extent that you can ride it. "CORLEO is a completely new means of transportation that combines Kawasaki's motorcycle and robotics technologies," Kawasaki executive officer Takashi Torii said, as reported by Tokyo Weekender. The robot has four legs, each of which can move independently. These legs are also equipped with inward-facing knees and rubber two-toed cloven hooves, similar to those of a goat or a deer. Company representatives hope that it can one day carry up to two people on its back through a wide range of environments. Related: Watch this humanlike robot 'rise from the dead' with creepy speed and stability "The rear leg unit can swing up and down independently from the front leg unit, allowing it to absorb shocks during walking and running," Kawasaki representatives explained on the Corleo concept page of their website. "The four legs are equipped with hooves featuring a left-right divided structure made of rubber, a material that absorbs surface irregularities and is slip-resistant," according to its website. "These hooves can adapt to various terrains, including grasslands, rocky areas, and rubble fields." Kawasaki proposes that Corleo will have an AI system that enhances its balance and navigation, with the robot responding to the body movements of the rider -- just like a real horse. The robot will also have a heads-up display in front of the rider much like a motorcycle does, showing important information. "Equipped with an instrument panel that displays hydrogen level, route to the summit, center of gravity position, and other information. At night, it supports optimal riding by projecting markers onto the road surface to indicate the path ahead," Kawasaki representatives added. Corleo will be driven by a 150cc engine powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen fuel cells work by converting chemical energy from hydrogen into electricity. Hydrogen gas is split into protons (H+) and electrons, and the electrons create electricity that can power the motor. This process produces zero emissions, with only water as a byproduct. Hydrogen fuel cells can easily be recharged by refuelling them with hydrogen gas. This robot is still very much a concept for now, however. Kawasaki representatives suggested it may be launched by 2050, but they have not announced any solid development timeline, and there are no current plans for commercialization. The company also has not revealed any detailed technical specifications, including Corleo's speed, range of travel or battery life. Rather than a functional prototype, a mock-up of Corleo will be featured at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which runs from April 13 until October 13.

Kawasaki unveils a hydrogen-powered, ride-on robot horse

It's a great pity the exhaust port isn't where a horse's isKawasaki Kawasaki Heavy Industries has pulled the covers off perhaps the most outrageous concept vehicle we've ever seen. The Corleo is a two-seater quadruped robot you steer with your body, capable of picking its way through rough terrain thanks to AI vision. I mean look, sure, you could go buy yourself a horse. But some horses are very cheeky, and have you seen what comes out the back end of those things? All that'll come out the back of the Corleo robot is fresh, clean water as a combustion product from its clean-burning, 150cc, hydrogen-fueled generator engine. Possibly chilled water, from an underslung dispenser - that'd be nice on a mountain picnic. This is the latest concept vehicle from Kawasaki Heavy Industries - not the motorcycle division specifically, and I'm OK with that. I think the parent company would be wise to keep this machine far from any "Ninja" stickers that might give its AI brain the idea that it should learn martial arts. Unveiled at the Osaka Kansai Expo, the Corleo is powered by hydrogen fuel cells, as all good Japanese concepts should be, and it appears electrically actuated. Its rear legs appear to have an additional joint in them for improved impact resistance - and also presumably to fling riders off the back, stand up, and take up arms when the robot wars begin. Its bifurcated "hooves" have grippy rubber treads. The adjustable-length stirrups will suit a wide range of riders, holding onto a rudimentary handlebar and sitting on a floating seat unit long enough to take a passenger, and capable of moving independently from the robot's ... butt joints. There's a wind-deflecting screen, which would only make sense if this thing's designed to gallop at north of 50 miles an hour (80 km/h), and behind that, a dinky little full-color dash. As you can see in the videos, it would seem the Corleo is designed for hot 'n' heavy off-roading, including a cat-like ability to leap from rock to rock and sprint across uneven terrain. Its AI brain carefully analyzes the potential footfalls ahead and chooses the safest options, while responding to body language from the rider as its primary control input. At night time, it's apparently also going to highlight the path forward with a series of little arrows, so you know what it's planning to do. It is very much designed to be a robot horsie, free from all the rude noises and genuine, warm cross-species friendship. It is also - and don't let anyone fool you here - absolute codswallop. The video is pure CGI, and even as a concept, this is as blue-sky as they come. KHI has produced a prototype that's capable of standing and posing, and says it's an idea for a 2050 mobility project. Personally I'm not willing to bet that Japan itself still exists by 2050, what with its disturbingly ergonomic-looking projected population pyramid - let alone Kawasaki's robot horsie. Which is not to say that ride-on quadrupeds aren't going to be a thing. They're already a thing. XPeng showed off a rideable Unicorn it's built for kids in Bangkok last year, complete with a robotic arm for a tail capable of picking up six-pound (3-kg) objects. At the rate quadrupeds are advancing lately, we wouldn't put a two-seater out of reach for 2030. But it's not this one. Kawasaki's vision of a high-speed, chasm-leaping all-terrain monster takes things a little too far. You'd want to be Velcroed into your seat for some of these jumps, or risk somersaulting over the 'bars and getting stomped by your own hydrogen horse. Still, it's a lot of fun, and kudos to Kawasaki for that! Jump into the gallery for more images.

Kawasaki unveils rideable Horizon Zero Dawn-inspired robotic horse

TL;DR: Kawasaki introduced the CORLEO, a futuristic rideable robot, at the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo. Designed like a robotic horse-panther hybrid, it navigates various terrains using four autonomous legs powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The robot responds to rider movements and features a heads-up display. Currently, it's in the concept phase, with plans for future release. Kawasaki has unveiled a new futuristic robot called the CORLEO at the Osaka-Kansai Expo in Japan, with the new robot being designed to respond to the movements of its rider. Yes, a ridable robot. The CORLEO should be thought of as similar to a robotic horse combined with a panther, as the company behind it explains its four legs are designed to navigate various terrains, similar to how a panther or wolf would agilely move across them. However, riders mount it like a horse. The idea behind the concept is to provide an alternative to all-terrain motorcycles, offering increased maneuverability and stability, particularly enabling access to difficult mountainous areas/regions. The CORLEO is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and contains a 150cc engine. Its four legs operate autonomously, and the system is integrated with AI software designed to improve stability, balance, and navigation. CORLEO is designed to respond to the body movements of the rider, with the rider shifting their center of gravity to steer the robot in a direction. Moreover, CORLEO comes equipped with a heads-up display that provides the rider with data such as hydrogen levels, navigation details, weight distribution, etc. Notably, CORLEO isn't even close to being released, and is currently in its concept phase. Kawaskai said it plans on launching CORLEO as an alternative to all-terrain exploration within the next 25 years.

Hi-ho, Cyber! Bizarre robotic horse dreamed up by motorcycle maker...

Japanese robotics company Kawasaki Heavy Industries is charging into the future -- while leaning on an ancient mode of transport. Meet Corleo, a hydrogen-powered robo-stallion that people can ride -- or will be able to, once he or she hits the market. The cybernetic steed "is a completely new means of transportation that combines Kawasaki's motorcycle and robotics technologies," tech firm's executive officer Takashi Torii said. Unveiled Saturday at the Osaka Kansai Expo on April 4, the cutting-edge quadruped is still in the conceptual phase of development, the Daily Mail reported. But that didn't stop the creators from releasing an epic computer-generated promotional video -- showing off some of the envisioned capabilities of this self-operating Seabiscuit, which can hold up two riders. In it, Corleo can be seen cantering across a pastoral snowscape, navigating rocky cliffs, leaping over crevasses, fording streams, and even weaving through trees like an animatronic antelope. As depicted on camera, the computerized creature will be able to carry people across any terrain -- thanks to inward-facing knees and goat-like, two-toed cloven hooves made of rubber, which is "slip-resistant" and able to absorb "surface irregularities," per the company. "These hooves can adapt to various terrains, including grasslands, rocky areas, and rubble fields," they write. "Meanwhile, the rear leg unit can swing up and down independently from the front leg unit, allowing it to absorb shocks during walking and running." These make it the perfect all-terrain alternative to the motorcycle -- for which Kawasaki is perhaps best known. To further enhance the robo-ride, Kawasaki proposes that Corleo be outfitted with artificial intelligence that improves its balance and coordination. Much like a real-life draft animal, the Termi-neigh-tor responds to the body movements of the rider and adjusts to center of gravity shifts in real-time -- thereby lessening the chances that the jockey will get bucked off mid-ride. Corleo will also come equipped with a motorcycle-esque dashboard display featuring crucial information from weight distribution to hydrogen levels. At night, the motherboard "supports optimal riding by projecting markers onto the road surface to indicate the path ahead," Kawasaki representatives added. As for the horsepower, Corleo is fueled by a 150cc engine that takes hydrogen from tanks in the rear to generate electricity for each of the legs' drive systems, the Daily Mail reported. These are easily refueled using hydrogen gas and the only emission is water, meaning they effectively produce less waste than an actual horse. The speed, range, and battery life have yet to be announced, however. Unfortunately, wannabe riders will need to rein in their tech-spectations. Kawasaki has yet to devise a development timeline or plans for commercialization -- although they suggest Robo-Colt could debut in the far-off year of 2050. Like a pony lover with a hobby horse, Corleo hopefuls will have to tide themselves over in the interim with a display mockup, which be featured at the Osaka-Kansai Expo -- running from April 13 until October 13 in Osaka, Japan.