When it comes to robot quadruped, the most famous name ever being Spot by Boston Dynamics, which costs $70,000 each. It can perform some dance moves and is specifically designed for inspection and protection jobs.
But Japan’s Kawasaki industrial group wants to go a step further, with an interesting and unique idea. That is RHP Bex, or simply Bex, a robot that looks quite similar to a mountain goat with a pair of long horns.
The brainchild of Kawasaki’s Robust Humanoid Platform (RHP), the team developed the Bex with the goal of using it as a material handling machine at construction sites.
Currently, the robotics specialists at the Japanese company are aiming for a load capacity of about 100kg for the Bex. One point to note, however, is that the Bex’s upper body is quite versatile, able to be designed around the different tasks it needs to perform. For example, Bex could be deployed on farms to harvest crops, or use body cameras for inspection missions.
Kawasaki’s robot goat
The team’s idea was to engage partners, then assess their specific needs, and thereby modify the Bex’s upper body to smoothly carry out assigned tasks. In a word, this design is modular and sounds quite practical. It can be said that Kawasaki is pushing Bex to become an open innovation platform.
And speaking of innovation, Bex can walk like a four-legged beast if the ground is bumpy. When it needs to move faster on flat roads, it can bend its knees to reveal a unique hidden wheel system underneath.
For those who fantasize about riding a giant robot, it can also bring good news. The RHP team actually built the seat and handlebars so a single user could ride up and have fun with Bex. Its prominent horns are not only aesthetically pleasing, either. Inside that is a series of sensors to serve different purposes.
Refer Slashgear
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