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Kawasaki Heavy Industries showed off a futuristic piece of technology at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025: Corleo, an innovative four-legged hydrogen-powered mechanized vehicle “horse” which promises to take riders through extremely rugged backcountry with ease – someday. The capabilities of Corleo were mainly demonstrated in a computer-generated clip, but there was also a real-world version at the expo which could move (slightly).
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This strange robotic contraption appears to have been lifted straight from the PlayStation hit Horizon Zero Dawn. The game is a post-apocalyptic, open-world adventure where you battle autonomous animal-shaped machines. Kawasaki says that the concept model could be available to consumers in 2050.
Corleo, powered by a 150cc hydrogen engine, will be able to independently move and balance its legs. This allows it to perform maneuvers such as jumping over obstacles, like a horse. It is designed to have rubber hooves with traction that will enhance stability on uneven terrain. The company has been experimenting with alternative power for a few years, and teased a Kawasaki motorcycle powered by hydrogen.
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What is the best way to drive a robot horse?
Engineers faced a major challenge when creating a four-legged machine controlled by a human rider. Corleo moved more like a horse than a machine, so traditional control methods were going to be difficult. Equestrians say that a simple shift in weight can communicate a lot to a horse. Kawasaki Heavy Industries may have taken this as inspiration when designing Corleo. Advertisement
This innovative vehicle concept relies solely on the rider shifting his body to indicate desired travel directions. Corleo is expected to have a more organic movement thanks to advanced artificial intelligence. This technology can not only recognize the rider’s movement, but also take into account the surrounding terrain.
Instead of a thick mane in front of your hand, as you would find when seated on the saddle of a horse, Corleo has a futuristic head-up display. It contains data on fuel levels, navigation instructions (which can project an arrow onto the ground) and other relevant diagnostics. Some may be excited for Corleo’s arrival, while others may find it unsettling.
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Is this a motorcycle?
Although Corleo cannot be classified as a motorcycle technically, it is easy to see how some have made this connection. If you look at the top of the vehicle, the similarities to a motorcycle are striking. Corleo has a front windscreen and a seat that is similar to a sport bike’s. There are also pegs beneath the seat for the rider’s feet. Corleo also has a bar that can be grabbed onto in place of the handlebars, which are usually found on bikes. This again draws comparisons between both.
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The biggest visual difference between Kawasaki Heavy Industries robot and a bike is the lack of wheels. You’ll find that even the most bizarre concept motorcycles still have wheels, despite their outlandish design. These robotic animals show that technology has advanced a lot since Corleo was first created. It will be interesting to see if this robotic horse is released in 2050, which is still more than two decades off.
