The Ice Walker: China’s Unitree G1 Defies -47.4°C and Crushes 130,000 Steps in Brutal Arctic Test

In a world-first for autonomous robotics, the Unitree G1 humanoid robot successfully completed a grueling endurance test on Monday, February 9, 2026. In the freezing Altai region of Xinjiang, where temperatures hit -47.4°C (-53.3°F), the G1 racked up 130,000 steps without human intervention. The robot even "stamped" the official logo of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics into the snow, showcasing its millimeter-precise movement powered by the BeiDou satellite system.

Engineers equipped the 1.27m tall robot with a custom insulated orange jacket and protective leg sleeves to shield its high-torque motors and 9000mAh battery from the extreme cold. With 23 to 43 joints and a price tag starting around $14,240, the G1 is positioning Unitree as a global leader in mass-produced humanoids, proving that AI-driven hardware can now survive and operate in environments once deemed fatal for both humans and machines.