Chinese invents robotic horse powered by petrol

Washington: A China-based retiree, who says he is "addicted" to inventing, has invented a petrol-powered rideable robotic horse, inspired by Three Kingdoms-era chancellor Zhuge Liang who is said to have invented some 1,800 years ago 'wooden ox and flowing horse.'

The 60-year-old Su Daocheng from Shiyan took two months to build the horse, which stands 1.5 metres high and two metres long, weighing in at 250 kilograms, CNet.com reported.

Only the back legs propel the horse, which uses a recycled go-kart engine, which runs on petrol, powering the spring-loaded legs to move back and forth, and the front is supported by wheels and the front legs appear to move only for show.

Daocheng claimed that the robotic horse would cost less than a real horse, since it does not require the time spent on human care, or the money spent on feed, which would be higher than the cost of the horse's fuel.