Core77

Product Designer Shunji Yamanaka's Electric Scooter with Follow Functionality

Taking a cue from horses

By Rain Noe - July 9, 2018

in Tech

Not very long ago, human beings' main form of transportation was an eco-friendly one: The horse. It ran on grass, and its "emissions" fertilized future patches of grass, creating a circular fuel system.

Japanese product designer Shunji Yamanaka points out another benefit of horse-based transportation: Companionship. "In the past, [horses were] a partner of people and also a vehicle." In an admittedly strange bid to recreate this relationship, Yamanaka has developed an electric scooter, the CanguRo, that he envisions as both transportation and a partner. "As a partner robot, it never leaves the side of its master," he writes. "It transforms into a vehicle that augments its master's physical functions—motional and sensory—and travels with the master as one."

Enter a caption (optional)

It's an interesting concept, but I think it would be more useful if it could carry lots of things, like a pack mule. I'd like to see a design outfitted with storage/hauling platforms or compartments.

The CanguRo was developed in collaboration between Yamanaka and fuRo, Japan's Future Robot Technology Research Center.

o

Favorite This
Q
2

Comment

Comments

Ross Oliver

6 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Robotic pack mule for the golf course: https://www.caddytrek.com/ I wonder how fast it can go? Could it keep up with a bike?

!Report as spam
Juan Cano

6 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

As cool looking as this is, I already have a dog that gives me sad eyes when I walk out of the house without him, don't need a robot to do that.

!Report as spam