Kawasaki recently revealed its computer generated concept for the Corleo – a “robotic pony”.

The video shows the automated equine galloping across valleys, crossing rivers and climbing mountains.

Corleo promises to be a high-end robot solution that will provide a revolutionary experience in mobility. Kawasaki motorbikes have limited mobility, as they are restricted to roads, paths, and trails. But a machine with four legs can go anywhere.

In the case of the Corleo however, is it possible to achieve a similar level of agility and stability while safely transporting a person through natural environments? Let’s talk about what it would take to achieve this.

Robots are complex machines with two main components, a body and a processing unit. The robot’s body has a specific morphology which determines its function. It contains actuators (devices which convert energy into physical movement) and sensors for both acting in the world and understanding it.

Usually, the information processing unit (IPU) is a computer that implements algorithms for processing data from sensors, building representations of the environment, and determining the actions to be performed, depending on the task.

Simple robotic vacuum cleaners can meet these requirements. They have a body that is suitable for moving under furniture without getting stuck. (Their flat top can also be used to give your cat a ride).

Actuators are the motors which spin the wheels and vacuum system. Some vacuums have cameras and impact sensors that detect collisions. The vacuum’s computer can be programmed to follow a specific cleaning routine.

Corleo, a quadruped robotic configuration, is one of the most stable. The four legs are strong and can flex forward and backwards to run and jump.

However, they appear to be limited in their movements of abduction and adduction.If I push on your right side you will open your leg – that is abduction motion.

The opposite motion is adduction – a move towards the midline. This may be a limitation in the concept design, but the Corleo will need this articulation for a smooth and safe ride.

Next comes actuators. Legged robots must constantly balance and support themselves, unlike wheeled vehicles. They also provide a level suspension that cushions the rider.

The wheels must be strong enough to propel the robot forward. The Corleo can also carry a human. The Barry robot and Unitree wheeled roboticsare examples of robots that can do this. However, the Corleo will also gallop over gaps. This requires stronger and more dynamic actuators than in the previous examples.

The driver of a manually driven car, motorcycle or car does not need any sensors or processing units because they steer the vehicle based on what they see. A robotic horse, however, would require more sophisticated control systems in order to determine the movement of its legs. Otherwise we would have to use both hands or even our feet to steer it.

Since the 1940s, legged robotics has been actively researching locomotion control. Researchers have demonstrated that a legged robot can walk down a hill without motors or sensors. This is called passive locomotion.

If “proprioceptive sensors” – the same sensors that tell your smartphone when to rotate the display – are only used to control balance, this is called “blind” movement because it does not rely on external information. When a robot uses “exteroceptive sensors” to determine how to move, which are sensors that collect information about the surrounding environment, this is called “perceptive locomotion”. Corleo is a robot that shows this.

I couldn’t see any visible Lidars or cameras in the images released. It could be hidden but it’s comforting to know that Corleo can “see” what is in front of it when walking.

Although it will be manually guided (so it won’t have to navigate autonomously), the locomotion system requires sensor data to determine whether or not the terrain is slippery. Its sensors must also be reliable in different environmental conditions. This is a huge challenge for autonomous cars .

There are challenges ahead

Corleo is still a concept and does not yet exist. It promises to be an improved quad bike. This could open up new opportunities in transportation, tourism, new hobbies, and sports for those who can afford them.

I’m more excited by the technological advancements that such a platform implies. Legged robots don’t have to look like humanoids or quadrupeds. Legged robots such as Wandercraft’s Personal exoskeleton ( ) or Human in Motion Robotics’ XoMotion (), which are self-balancing exoskeletons and revolutionise the lives of people who have mobility impairments, are available. The technological advancements implied by the Corleo would have been of great benefit to the development and production of assistive devices that allow disabled users to be independent.

Current advances in legged robots suggest that many of the features proposed by Kawasaki could be feasible. Others pose challenges. Corleo must have the endurance to walk through the wild, run effective algorithms for locomotion and implement safety standards required for vehicles.

All of these are major obstacles for a robot of a reasonable size. I would be unsure today if all of this could be achieved. I hope they prove me incorrect.