TOKYO — Kawasaki Heavy Industries is preparing for the future with Corleo, a lion-shaped robot that riders can mount and control using both physical inputs and voice commands. The company aims to release the robot commercially by 2035, project lead Takahiro Ueno revealed.
Corleo is designed to traverse rugged environments—mountains, forests, streams—where normal transportation fails. The prototype footage shows the robot climbing, sprinting and jumping with animal-like agility.
Powered by a compact hydrogen engine feeding electric batteries, Corleo uses four hydrogen tanks to operate for an entire day. It weighs 200 kg and can support riders up to 100 kg.
Kawasaki is incorporating conversational robotics, allowing Corleo to speak, understand voices and serve as a true travel companion.
The concept gained massive attention at Expo 2025 Osaka, prompting Kawasaki to greenlight commercialisation.