Chiba Institute of Technology unveiled Wednesday a transformable machine that can play dual roles — as both a robot, fused with artificial intelligence technologies, and a vehicle to enhance personal mobility.

The three-wheeled robot called CanguRo — meaning kangaroo in Italian — resembles the animal, but with a mechanical twist.

In robot mode, it functions as a type of assistant. For example, it can follow users around using autonomous-driving technology to help carry shopping bags, said Takayuki Furuta, general manager of the Future Robotics Technology Center run by the university.