DaxAI developed a machine designed to function like a sort of mechanical horse, named the Kijun X1. The robot attracted attention at the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, where visitors could literally climb onto its back and ride the machine. The project combines four independent robotic legs with a structure equipped with a saddle and handlebars.

The user rides the Kijun X1 much like a horse or a motorcycle; the difference is that, instead of engine noise or muscle power, locomotion relies on four electronically controlled mechanical legs. Its specifications far exceed those of most quadruped robots currently available; according to the company, the Kijun X1 can carry a load of up to 300 kg, meaning it was not developed solely to transport equipment. It has sufficient capacity to carry people, and in one of the most intriguing demonstrations held in Beijing, a humanoid robot was even shown riding the robotic horse.

The machine was also designed to operate on surfaces that are not perfectly flat. Its four legs can be adjusted individually while the robot moves, allowing it to traverse uneven terrain and maintain stability while carrying a load on its body. The Kijun X1 reaches a top speed of approximately 10 km/h—far from making it a substitute for a motorcycle or car—but speed does not appear to be the primary objective.

The advantage of such a machine lies precisely in its ability to reach places where conventional vehicles struggle; while a wheeled vehicle relies on a relatively continuous surface, a legged robot can choose where to place each limb. This opens up possibilities for traversing rocks, slopes, trails, mud, and other surfaces where small wheels would face difficulties.

The concept of building quadrupedal machines large enough to carry humans is also emerging in other projects; Kawasaki, for instance, is working on its own robotic horse concept called Corlio, originally unveiled as a personal mobility machine capable of navigating rough terrain. In this context, a robotic horse might initially seem like nothing more than a curious demonstration, yet a quadrupedal platform capable of carrying hundreds of kilograms across terrain inaccessible to traditional vehicles could find applications in agriculture, mining, equipment transport, rescue operations, and logistics in remote regions.