Kawasaki Heavy Industries to debut dog-shaped home-care robot by fiscal 2028

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. revealed plans to launch Home Leo, a dog-shaped social robot, in fiscal 2028 as a response to Japan's aging society and the shortfall of care staff. The robot will walk on four legs, use onboard artificial intelligence to hold conversations, and make context-appropriate decisions. In addition to providing emotional support, it will assist users with mobility and retrieve objects within the home.

A prototype has already been completed, and the firm will work with government agencies to run trial demonstrations. At the same event, Kawasaki displayed a magnetic-attachment welding robot designed to mimic a skilled technician’s movements on ship hulls, which it expects to deploy within a few years and potentially sell to other companies.