Humanoid Robot Summits a Mountain in Ecuador

A modified Unitree G1 humanoid robot, named Pemba, has reached the summit of Ecuador’s Chimborazo volcano (6,200 metres / 20,341 feet). It walked up low-angle slopes, but was carried on steep terrain. The climb was a test to hopefully one day bring Pemba to the world’s highest peak.

The project, led by engineer Pablo Berlanga Boemare and his company Geologic Dome, aims to explore whether humanoid robots can operate in remote, high-risk environments. The long-term vision is for robots equipped with cameras, sensors, AI, and satellite connectivity to monitor wildlife, detect environmental threats, and collect field data across large protected areas.

Pemba’s “ascent” of Chimborazo was only partially autonomous, as it walked independently on sections with slopes below 30 degrees, but team members had to carry it through steeper terrain during the 16-hour climb. Engineers also added custom thermal-management systems to protect electronics and batteries from extreme cold and high-altitude conditions.

One of the project’s next goals is Everest, as researchers hope to test robotic performance at Death Zone altitudes while gathering data on mobility and durability. Potential future applications, as noted by Boemare, include search and rescue, waste collection, glacier monitoring, and environmental surveying. However, the Everest mission is currently delayed because Nepal has not yet established regulations for robotic expeditions.

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