A Chinese startup has unveiled a huge ‘cyber horse’ robot that people can actually ride.
The quadrupedal machine, which was revealed at the recent World Robot Conference in Beijing, is designed to be sat on as if riding a pony.
Video footage shared online shows people – including a young child – mounting the unusual contraption before steering it forwards, left and right.
DaxAI’s Qiji X1 All–Terrain Intelligent Mount has four ‘legs’ which can move independently, can carry loads of up to 660lb (300kg), reach speeds of up to 25mph (40kmph) and has a 62–mile (100km) range.
It comes with two steering handles, which resemble those found on a motorbike, and a protective ‘shield’ as the horse’s head.
According to a description by state–run newspaper China Daily, it can autonomously navigate complex terrain, from steep slopes and gravel to mud.
‘Built for premium off–road leisure, it transforms AI from lines of code on a screen into a truly rideable, real–world device,’ the description reads.
It’s also envisioned for transporting heavy loads across uneven terrain and assisting during emergency rescue operations.
The quadrupedal machine, which was revealed at the recent World Robot Conference in Beijing, is designed to be sat on as if riding a pony
It is unclear when DaxAI’s four–legged robot will go on sale, or how much it will cost.
However, it represents yet another step forward in the rapidly developing field of robotics, which has seen humanoid and robot dogs become mainstream in recent years.
Commenting on the impressive device, one person online said: ‘We had the horseless carriage, now we have the horseless horse.’
Someone else said: ‘This is like reinventing the horse.’
And another joked: ‘I’ve seen enough of these robot videos that I’d be wearing a helmet just in case.’
However, one person warned: ‘How long until one of these chunky boy robots goes rogue in an events centre and harms/kills the attendees?’
Another exhibit at the conference was Hangzhou–based DEEP Robotics’ limited–edition robot horse, which was unveiled to mark the Year of the Horse.
Weighing about 66lbs (33kg) and standing about half a metre tall, the robotic quadruped can carry up to 110lbs (50kg) – but looks much more horse–like than DaxAI’s version.
Video footage shared online shows people – including a young child – mounting the unusual contraption before steering it forwards, left and right
Another exhibit at the conference was Hangzhou–based DEEP Robotics’ limited–edition robot horse, which was unveiled to mark the Year of the Horse
Last year, motorcycle company Kawasaki Heavy Industries unveiled a hydrogen–powered, ride–on robo–horse.
The bizarre device was unveiled at the Osaka Kansai Expo as part of Kawasaki’s ‘Impulse to Move’ project.
Dubbed the CORLEO, this two–seater quadruped is capable of galloping over almost any terrain.
The company calls it a ‘revolutionary off–road personal mobility vehicle’ which swaps out the familiar wheels for four robotic legs.
To steer, all you need to do is move your body and the machine’s AI vision will pick out the best route to take.
And, to make sure you don’t fly off as you leap about like a robot cowboy, CORLEO constantly monitors its rider’s movements to achieve ‘a reassuring sense of unity’.
Kawasaki says: ‘These hooves can adapt to various terrains, including grasslands, rocky areas, and rubble fields.’
However, would–be riders might have a while to wait as Kawasaki says this has been created as a concept for 2050.
Kawasaki, a company better known for its high–end motorcycles, has also unveiled a hydrogen–powered, ride–on robotic horse
Earlier this week, Chinese scientists developed a robot that can outrun Usain Bolt.
An incredible video shows the prototype, nicknamed ‘Superman’, reaching speeds of 12.66m per second (28.3mph) as it races along a track.
In comparison, sprinting champion Usain Bolt reached a speed of 12.42m per second (27.78mph) when he set the world record at the World Athletics Championship in 2009.
The robot has been designed by Unitree, a Hangzhou–based Chinese robotics company best known for developing high–performance robot dogs and humanoid robots.
