Chinese researchers have developed a high-energy lithium-metal primary battery that combines long endurance with powerful bursts while operating at temperatures as low as -40°F (-40°C).

Developed by a team led by researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the 25Ah pouch-type battery is designed to maintain stable performance in extreme cold.

According to Chinese online media reports, validation tests showed that the battery achieved an energy density exceeding 750Wh/kg at a low discharge rate.

The technology could support applications requiring reliable, high-energy power in harsh and low-temperature environments.

High-energy battery

The new lithium-metal primary battery is designed to combine high energy density, long storage life and rapid power delivery, while continuing to operate reliably in temperatures as low as -40°F.

The researchers developed a 25Ah pouch-type lithium-metal primary battery that achieved an energy density of more than 750Wh/kg under low-rate discharge conditions, according to Science and Technology Daily. Testing by the safety laboratory of the China Electronics Standardization Institute also found that the battery could increase its discharge rate by as much as 100 times, enabling short bursts of high-current output at up to 10C, reports the Global Times (GT).

The C-rate indicates how quickly a battery can charge or discharge relative to its rated capacity. A 1C discharge means a battery can theoretically deliver its full rated capacity in one hour, while a 10C discharge allows the same capacity to be delivered in roughly one-tenth of an hour. This capability is particularly important for primary batteries, which are designed for single-use operation and are not intended to be routinely recharged.

At room temperature, the new battery reportedly reaches a specific power of 4,487W/kg. It can sustain discharge at 4C and deliver short bursts at up to 10C, addressing a major limitation of conventional lithium primary batteries, which can offer high energy density and long shelf life but may struggle to release large amounts of energy rapidly.

Cold-ready battery

The battery also demonstrated significant performance at extreme cold. At -40°F, it retained an energy density of 447Wh/kg when discharged at 1C. Its annual self-discharge rate remained below 1 percent, indicating that the battery can retain most of its stored energy during extended periods of standby, reports GT.

The combination of high specific energy, low self-discharge and high power output could be valuable in situations where batteries must remain ready for long periods but suddenly deliver substantial power. Potential applications include drones and robots operating in remote locations, spacecraft systems, field-deployed sensors, rescue equipment and other devices where regular battery replacement or recharging is difficult.

Primary batteries are particularly useful in applications where charging infrastructure is unavailable or impractical. They can remain stored for long periods and provide power immediately when required, making them relevant to military operations, emergency response, rescue missions and forest-fire monitoring.

According to the team, they achieved the performance improvement through a new cathode material based on a high-entropy oxide. The team has also established a pilot production line with an annual capacity of 10 tons, providing a pathway from laboratory-scale material development toward battery manufacturing.

The battery has completed third-party testing and is undergoing additional validation for potential use in drones, robots, spaceflight simulators, and field sensor nodes. Further testing will determine how the technology performs under specific operating conditions and whether it can be scaled for broader commercial applications.

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US-based Agility Robotics is preparing to launch its Digit V5 humanoid robot, with the company positioning it as a step toward safer human-robot collaboration in warehouses and factories.

The robot is designed to operate alongside workers without traditional safety fencing, addressing a key challenge in deploying humanoids in real-world workplaces.

Digit V5 is expected to support 20-hour operational days and use interchangeable end-effectors for different material-handling tasks, with autonomous tool changes planned for the future.

Recently, Agility Robotics revealed its plans to go public through a $2.5 billion SPAC deal, raising over $620 million to fund product development, research, and expansion.

Robots go cageless

Agility Robotics is preparing to deploy its next-generation Digit V5 humanoid robot to early customers in December, marking a major step toward wider commercial use of humanoid machines in industrial environments.

Digit V5 is designed specifically for warehouse and factory operations, where it can work alongside people without requiring the extensive safety fencing typically used around industrial robots. The humanoid platform combines a human-scale form factor with autonomous mobility, allowing it to navigate facilities and perform material-handling tasks in spaces designed for human workers.

Agility says Digit V5 incorporates upgraded safety systems intended to let the robot operate in close proximity to people. This could eliminate the need for dedicated cages and barriers that can consume valuable floor space, require costly facility modifications, disrupt traffic patterns and force changes to existing workflows, reports Humanoids Daily.

The ability to operate without conventional fencing could make Digit V5 particularly useful in crowded warehouses and factories where installing a dedicated robotic enclosure is impractical. Workers could also move through areas where the robot is operating, potentially allowing more flexible collaboration between humans and machines.

Agility expects early customer deployments to validate Digit V5’s safety capabilities under real-world conditions before broader production begins. The company believes the technology could expand humanoid applications beyond logistics and manufacturing into sectors such as retail and pharmaceuticals, where earlier systems faced greater operational restrictions.

Advances robot safety

Agility is placing safety at the center of its next-generation Digit V5 humanoid robot, with a new system designed to let it operate in close proximity to people without traditional safety fencing.

The robot combines cameras, sensors and software that can detect and interpret people in its surroundings with hardware designed to respond safely to unexpected movements. Its proprietary cycloidal actuators in the hips and knees provide the strength and dynamic stability needed to react quickly without losing balance, dropping a payload or falling.

Agility has tested this capability by suddenly removing the surface beneath the robot, prompting it to take a corrective step and maintain its load. The company considers this dynamic stability an important part of its overall safety approach.

Digit V5 also introduces other features intended to support safer and more flexible operation. Its battery system is designed to support more than 20 hours of work per day, potentially allowing one robot to operate across three shifts. The humanoid also uses an ISO-standard flange that allows it to work with a broad range of robotic end-effectors. Agility has demonstrated Digit changing grippers and plans to eventually enable autonomous tool changes.

These capabilities could expand the robot beyond bulk material handling into tasks such as kitting and sorting, while maintaining the safety requirements needed for workplaces where humans and robots operate together.

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DEEP Robotics’ intelligent robots are helping researchers observe Tibetan antelopes in the high-altitude Serling Tso Nature Reserve in China.

Located at an average elevation of 4,700 meters (around 15,420 feet), the reserve becomes a key observation site between July and September, when large herds return with newborn calves during the annual migration season.

The robots captured footage of the animals migrating, nursing, and foraging around Cuo’e Lake, providing researchers with visual data that could support wildlife behavior.

Recently, Deep Robotics’ DR02 humanoid showcased enhanced mobility, running on grass, jumping obstacles, climbing stairs, and operating near hazardous electrical infrastructure for industrial applications.

Robots aid wildlife

At an average elevation of about 4,700 meters, China’s Serling Tso Nature Reserve provides an important habitat for Tibetan antelopes. From July through September, large herds return to the region with newborn calves, creating an ideal period for researchers to study migration, nursing and feeding behavior.

During this year’s migration season, DEEP Robotics deployed its robots around Cuo’e Lake to support wildlife research and ecological conservation. The machines captured natural footage of Tibetan antelopes while minimizing human interference, providing researchers with valuable visual data for long-term population and behavioral studies.

Advancing into High-Altitude Ecological Zones – Intelligent Robots Assist in Scientific Observation of Antelopes pic.twitter.com/QvNNUk1yeH

— DEEP Robotics (@DeepRobotics_CN) August 10, 2026

DEEP Robotics has previously used robotic systems for high-altitude wildlife observation. In 2025, its X30 quadruped robot operated in the Hoh Xil region at an elevation of around 4,800 meters (around 15,750 feet). Its biomimetic design helped it blend into the environment and reduce disturbance to animals.

This year, the company deployed its Lynx M20 wheeled-legged robot in the Serling Tso Reserve, primarily for close-range visual documentation. The robot was required to operate across soft meadows, uneven permafrost and scattered gravel, where conventional equipment can struggle with stability.

Cold temperatures, rain, snow and other harsh weather conditions further complicate fieldwork, highlighting the potential of rugged robotic platforms for scientific observation in extreme environments.

Lynx M20 advances

DEEP Robotics’ Lynx M20 wheeled-legged robot is being used to support ecological research in the challenging high-altitude environment in Serling Tso Nature Reserve.

Designed for all-terrain operation, the Lynx M20 combines the speed of wheeled movement with the obstacle-crossing ability of legged locomotion. Its IP66 protection rating helps shield the robot from dust and water, while its operating temperature range of -20°C (-4°F) to 55°C (131°F) allows it to function in unpredictable plateau conditions.

The robot is also equipped with LiDAR and depth cameras that enable it to perceive changes in terrain, including meadows, uneven permafrost and gravel slopes. Using this environmental data, the system can adjust its posture and movement in real time, helping it maintain stability while navigating difficult ground.

A key advantage is its low-interference operation. Tibetan antelopes are highly sensitive to unfamiliar sounds and movements, making conventional close-range observation difficult. The Lynx M20’s relatively quiet movement allows researchers to approach herds with less disturbance and remotely document behaviors such as migration, grazing, and nursing.

Researchers observed the robot approaching a herd near Cuo’e Lake without causing the animals to flee. According to DEEP, the exercise demonstrates how increasingly capable mobile robots can extend scientific monitoring into remote and extreme environments.

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