Robot dog climbs steep stone steps during Mount Tai challenge in Tai'an, Shandong, China

On October 27, 2026, in Tai'an, Shandong, China, @Zhāng·R shared a video of a four-legged robot navigating the steep stone steps of Mount Tai. In the video, a silver-and-black quadruped robot equipped with a red-and-white load-carrying rig steadily climbs the narrow stone staircase. Its legs adjust to the uneven steps while maintaining balance as it ascends. Hikers and engineers watch from behind a safety barrier, with several people recording the robot's progress on their smartphones. According to reports, nearly 90 teams from universities and technology companies participated in a robotics challenge at Mount Tai, testing their machines on a demanding 3.9-kilometer route featuring more than 3,100 stone steps. The robots were required to carry additional loads, including bottled water, instant noodles, and eggs, to evaluate their balance, obstacle navigation, and endurance on steep terrain. The technology is also being explored for practical use in transporting supplies uphill and carrying waste back down the mountain.