kawasaki unveils CORLEO, a four-legged robot with hooves

Kawasaki reveals four-legged vehicle at expo 2025 osaka

Unleashed at Expo 2025 Osaka as part of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries pavilion themed ‘Mobile Instincts,’ CORLEO is a futuristic off-road mobility concept. Combining the energy of motorcycling with advanced robotics and designed to conquer mountains and traverse rugged terrains, the hydrogen-powered machine walks on four robotic legs equipped with adaptive hooves. Echoing Kawasaki’s long-standing ‘Fun to Ride’ philosophy, this concept offers riders a unique outdoor riding experience.

images courtesy of Kawasaki

CORLEO adapts to uneven ground with its hooves

CORLEO represents the Japanese corporation’s vision of mobility in 2050, where instinct, technology, and the natural environment move in sync. The chassis of the Kawasaki vehicle mimics the responsive feel of a motorcycle, but instead of wheels, it uses independently articulating legs with swing arms that absorb impact and adapt to uneven ground. Each leg ends in a hoof made from slip-resistant rubber, split left-to-right to conform to varied surfaces like grass, gravel, and rock. This legged mobility platform maintains balance and stability while also keeping the rider’s body in a forward-looking posture, even when ascending steep slopes or climbing steps.

A 150cc hydrogen engine generates electricity to power the leg-mounted drive units, with a rear-mounted hydrogen canister supplying the fuel to ensure low emissions and silent operation. The onboard navigation panel helps guide adventurers by showing the path to the summit, the rider’s center of gravity, and hydrogen levels. For nighttime rides, CORLEO projects illuminated markers onto the terrain ahead.

CORLEO combines the thrill of motorcycling with advanced robotics

Sensors enable the robot to adapt to the rider’s motions

Designed for intuitive control, CORLEO responds to the rider’s weight shifts through sensors embedded in the stirrups and handlebars. The height of the stirrups can also be adjusted to maintain ergonomic posture, enhancing the tight connection between human and machine. This ongoing exchange between the rider and the mobility system, apart from offering control and comfort, also creates a new kind of ride experience that is more instinctive, almost animalistic.

this legged mobility platform maintains balance and stability