A robot just climbed a 6000m Peak
Everest is next!
On June 5, a robot nicknamed Pemba José Lani became the first humanoid robot to summit a 6000m peak when it reached the top of Chimborazo (6,310m), the highest mountain in Ecuador. Researchers spent 72 hours preparing the Chinese-made Unitree G1, which cost about $35,000, for the climb.
Standing around 1.3m tall and weighing about 35kg, the robot was designed with advanced articulated joints that allow it to mimic the movement of a human climber.
Electric motors at the hips, knees and ankles constantly adjusted its balance as it negotiated steep scree, loose volcanic rock and patches of snow.
An array of cameras, depth sensors and inertial measurement units continuously scanned the terrain, enabling onboard software to calculate stable foot placements and react to slips in real time.
Rather than simply following a pre-programmed route, the robot was able to adapt its gait to changing ground conditions, carefully shifting its weight before committing to each step.
Wearing a jacket, gaiters and trainers fitted with micro-traction spikes, the first known mountaineering robot — and notably its battery — performed better than expected.
The spikes gave it additional grip on icy sections while its lightweight frame reduced the risk of sinking into soft snow.
Engineers were particularly impressed by the robot’s ability to recover from stumbles without human intervention, using sophisticated balance-control algorithms similar to those being developed for future search-and-rescue robots.
(Check out our story about how an AI-powered drone helped locate two missing bushwalkers in Kosciuszko National Park)
The successful ascent highlights just how rapidly legged robotics is advancing, particularly in environments where wheeled or tracked machines struggle to operate.
The engineers behind Pemba have their sights set on getting the robot to scale Mount Everest. Stay tuned!
