A six-legged robot “guide dog” developed by a research team in Shanghai could help vision-impaired individuals live more independently.

Currently being field-tested, this robot navigates its environment using cameras and sensors, including the ability to recognize traffic light signals, which traditional guide dogs cannot do.

About the size of an English Bulldog but wider, the robot can communicate with users through AI-enhanced voice recognition and route planning, Reuters has reported.

Its six-legged design provides maximum stability, allowing it to walk smoothly, even when three legs are lifted, similar to a camera tripod, according to Professor Gao Feng of Jiao Tong University’s School of Mechanical Engineering.

Written by B.C. Begley