The Japanese “robocosa” is supposed to help the local aging population. The aim is to use it mainly in agriculture and villages. Thanks to four legs, the unusual robot is more stable and can move even on uneven surfaces.
The Japanese company Kawasaki Heavy Industries has developed its first four-legged robot. She named it “Bex” because of its appearance, which resembles a special species of goat – a wild ibex (ibex in English).
The robotic goat with giant twisted horns can move on difficult terrain and can carry up to 100 kilograms. “She moves on four legs so she can walk over obstacles or on uneven surfaces. She can move quickly on flat ground with wheels,” explained Noboru Takagi of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
Kawasaki, which is internationally known mainly for its motorcycles, has been working with humanoid robots since 2017. After the problems that the two-legged robots had with their balance, it decided last year to develop a four-legged prototype.
The main reason, however, were problems with labor shortages in agriculture in Japanese villages. “In an aging population, the robotic goat can help older people carry heavy loads. It can be used, for example, in the farming and forestry industries, where people have to carry heavy things,” concluded Noboru Takagi. The company now plans to test “robocosis”. She hopes that in 2023 she will be able to use the robot commercially.
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