Kawasaki Unveils a Concept for a Rideable Robo-Horse Powered by Hydrogen

Are robotic dogs no longer thrilling enough for you? How about riding a robotic horse instead? Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), the Japanese industrial conglomerate, has announced plans to develop one. Drawing on its deep expertise in both industrial robotics and motorcycles, KHI aims to debut a hydrogen-powered, two-seater rideable robotic horse — called ‘CORLEO’ — by 2050.

Unlike conventional vehicles that run on wheels, CORLEO’ moves on four robotic legs giving it the ability to navigate a wide range of challenging terrains, from grasslands and rocky paths to rubble-strewn fields. Steering is intuitive: riders simply shift their body weight, then the machine’s AI-powered vision system will select the optimal route.

Powered by a hydrogen engine, ‘CORLEO’ also offers a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to traditional fuel-powered vehicles. It’s worth noting that ‘CORLEO’ is intended for use in environmentally sensitive areas, where preserving the local ecosystem is crucial. That’s also why a clean power source like hydrogen is essential.

While its four-legged design offers greater stability than a two-legged configuration (like that in a humanoid), using it as a transport vehicle across difficult terrain means it must constantly rebalance itself, and deliver suspension performance that surpasses that of conventional four-wheeled vehicles.

In addition, ‘CORLEO’ will require a far more sophisticated locomotion system than typical urban vehicles. Its movement must constantly adapt to dynamic and unpredictable environments — far more complex than paved city roads. For example, it will need an array of advanced sensors, such as cameras and LiDAR, to assess how to step on uneven rocks or detect slippery terrain. These sensors must also perform reliably under varying environmental conditions. Achieving this level of perception and control presents a challenge on par with high-level autonomous driving.