China’s Unitree G1 Becomes First Humanoid Robot to Walk 130,000 Steps in −53°F

A humanoid robot, bundled up like a winter hiker, has just walked its way into the record books.

Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics has unveiled what it says is the world’s first confirmed case of a humanoid robot completing sustained autonomous walking in extreme cold. The company’s G1 humanoid robot logged more than 130,000 steps in temperatures as low as minus 47.4°C (minus 53°F) during a test in the Altay region of Xinjiang, northwest China.

Unitree shared the achievement in a post on X, describing it as an “Autonomous Walking Challenge in −47.4°C Extreme Cold,” carried out on snowfields in Altay, an area often referred to as the birthplace of human skiing. According to the company, the robot operated at coordinates 89.75° E, 47.21° N, leaving behind a long trail of footprints in the snow.

How the test was carried out

The demonstration took place in open, snowy terrain rather than a controlled indoor environment. Unitree says the G1 maintained balance and continuous motion across uneven snow while enduring prolonged exposure to subzero temperatures.

To survive the harsh conditions, the robot was not left in a standard factory configuration. A video released by the company shows the G1 wearing an orange insulated puffer jacket along with plastic protective coverings around its legs and feet. 

These additions were meant to reduce thermal stress on sensitive components such as joints, actuators, and batteries. During the outing, the robot traced a large China Media Group (CMG) Winter Olympics broadcast emblem across the snow, covering an area roughly 186 meters by 100 meters.

Why Unitree used the G1

The G1 isn’t the newest robot on Unitree’s shelf, but it appears to be a reliable workhorse. The company has shipped more than 5,500 humanoid robots in 2025, with the G1 positioned as its most proven platform, according to figures cited by CNEVPost.

The G1 stands about 127 centimeters (4.2 feet) tall, weighs roughly 35 kilograms (77 pounds), and is powered by a 9,000 mAh removable battery. It uses a combination of sensors, including LiDAR and depth cameras, and runs on Unitree’s proprietary robotics software platform, UnifoLM.

Marketing stunt or technical milestone?

The demonstration comes as robotics companies increasingly focus on environmental durability. Most humanoid robots today are designed for indoor labs or mild outdoor use. By contrast, competitors like Deep Robotics have publicly rated their machines for temperatures only down to -20°C, according to industry comparisons.

While the visual impact of the snowy logo and long-distance walk has drawn attention, some observers have questioned the extent of autonomy involved, particularly given the precision required to carve a recognizable emblem into the snow. Still, the ability to keep a bipedal robot upright and functional for such an extended period in extreme cold is being viewed as a notable hardware stress test.

Also read: Tesla plans to shift production toward humanoid robots as Optimus ramps up alongside its robotaxi push.