SUBA-ROO: a Wearable Robotic Kangaroo Leg from the Future

It all started at the “2013 LA Design Challenge” where car companies were encouraged to develop ideas for this year’s theme entitled “Biomimicry & Mobility 2025.”

As our knowledge of the environment is constantly increasing, there is a need to adapt ourselves to nature’s laws. Therefore, the companies had to be creative as well as take into account pollution, congestion, sustainability, flexibility and safety.

This takes us to Subaru’s Global design team that was inspired by the characteristics of a kangaroo and actually incorporated the safety of the I-SITE with their specialty, the all-road experience, and constructed a one-legged vehicle called the “SUBA-ROO.”

At first sight, it might be a bit hard to understand it but the SUBA-ROO is a wearable and fun mobility vehicle that incorporates a mechanism which mimics the motions of a kangaroo.

In case you were wondering about the whole jumping system, know that it’s enabled by actuators that are powered by two integrated motors. So, the motion energy is stored and released afterwards in the “synthetic tendon” of the leg, while a Kers system converts the excess kinetic energy and bottles it in the onboard battery.

Moreover, the SUBA-ROO’s usage is limitless. It doesn’t matter if you are at the beach, in the woods or on a snowy vacation, this vehicle is just right, no matter the terrain It even has an autopilot mode and an Eye Sight safety system that actually scans the surrounding for any obstacles.

Let’s be honest and actually admit that this is one interesting and original design study. If it were to be produced, we would certainly take it for a spin.