A new test in northern China shows how far humanoid robots are being pushed beyond indoor labs and into harsh natural environments.
China-based Unitree has demonstrated its G1 humanoid robot completing a long autonomous walk in severe winter conditions. The robot logged more than 130,000 steps in temperatures falling to –47.4°C (–53°F) in the Altay region of Xinjiang.
The walk took place across a snowfield measuring about 186 metres in length and 100 metres in width. During the test, the robot traced the outline of a Winter Olympics emblem on the ice. Media reports described it as the first confirmed case of a humanoid robot sustaining autonomous movement in such extreme cold.
To survive the conditions, engineers modified the robot from its standard factory setup. The G1 was dressed in an orange insulated jacket and fitted with plastic covers on its legs to protect joints, actuators, and the battery from freezing.
The robot relied on China’s Beidou navigation network for precise positioning, while onboard path-planning algorithms helped it maintain balance on uneven, icy terrain.
The G1 stands about 127 cm tall and weighs around 35 kg. It has between 23 and 43 joint motors, with a maximum joint torque of 120 Nm. Its sensor suite includes 3D LiDAR and a depth camera. Power comes from a 9,000 mAh battery that supports quick swapping and up to 2 hours of operation.
The robot runs on Unitree’s UnifoLM system and uses reinforcement learning for motion and task control. It can walk at speeds of up to 6.5 feet per second, or about 4.5 mph.
Introduced in May 2024, the G1 is sold in China at a starting price of RMB 99,000 (around US$14,240). Unitree reported humanoid robot shipments of over 5,500 units in 2025.
The test highlights a growing industry focus on environmental durability as companies aim to deploy humanoid robots outside controlled spaces.
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