Corleo, Kawasaki Heavy Industries' hydrogen-powered off-road vehicle resembling a robot horse, may be riding the range sooner than expected.
When the company unveiled the concept last year, it pulled back the reins a bit by setting the commercialization date a full 25 years in the future. But now it sounds like the robot horse could be ready to saddle up in the not-so-distant future.
Kawasaki Heavy Industry said it's targeting Corleo for use as an on-site mobility vehicle at the Expo 2030 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while working toward commercialization in 2035. The company has established a dedicated development organization, dubbed the SAFE ADVENTURE Business Development Team, which will report directly to the president while working to fulfill a vision that includes a Corleo riding simulator. The simulator could be ready as soon as 2027, with plans to deploy the entire system—including motion data, 3D models, and motion data obtained during CORLEO development—to the gaming and e-sports industries.
It all factors into Kawasaki's SAFE ADVENTURE concept of "realizing a society where everyone can safely and securely enjoy mountainous areas while achieving harmony with nature."
Core to this concept is the Corleo, which features a carbon-metal body, a 150cc hydrogen engine that powers its four independent legs, and a head-like structure that houses a heads-up display with information including speed, energy levels and maps.
In the same way a traditional horse doesn't have steering controls sticking out of its head, the Corleo will also rely on non-traditional controls. The vehicle is driven by the rider shifting their weight front to back and side to side, while the vehicle’s “hooves” provide grip and stability.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
