Tesla Optimus, the company’s flagship humanoid robot, remains the focal point of this innovation landscape. Musk has intimated that robot sales could one day outperform Tesla’s vehicle division. As labor shortages loom and industries look for effective solutions to monotonous and potentially hazardous activities, the focus on humanoid robots grows. Humanoid robot development has long been led by companies such as Honda of Japan and Hyundai Motor’s Boston Dynamics.
Tesla has unveiled its newest achievements in humanoid robotics with a video showing multiple Optimus robots. These robots have increased mobility and can do complex jobs, such as putting battery cells into trays in huge office spaces. Several Optimus machines have already been implemented in Tesla’s facilities and are undergoing intensive testing and refining, setting the groundwork for a potential revolution in automated labor.
Release Date Speculations and Controversies
While the release date for Optimus remains unknown, Elon Musk has previously hinted at a late 2025 launch. However, with each unit expected to cost roughly $30,000, its affordability in the general market is unclear. Tesla’s recent video of the Optimus prototype sparked debate over its impressiveness. Nonetheless, Elon Musk remains bullish, claiming that Optimus is already completing manufacturing jobs at Tesla’s lab and might be operational in real factories by the end of the year. Musk even proposes external sales by the end of 2025.
Tesla Optimus: Software Development
Tesla launched the “Optimus Gen 2” late last year, which improved considerably over prior models. Despite initial criticism, these additions give the initiative credence. While some assume about Tesla’s early level of software development based on previous films, engineer Milan Kovac confirms the deployment of a neural net for Optimus, allowing it to handle jobs like managing battery cells with precision.
Optimus engineer Milan Kovac commented on the video update as follows:
Over the past couple of months, our awesome manufacturing team has built more bots for us to work on, and collect AI data from!
We’ve trained and deployed a neural net allowing Optimus to start doing useful tasks, such as picking up battery cells coming down a conveyor and… https://t.co/eZWC2X8p19
— Milan Kovac (@_milankovac_) May 5, 2024
Humanoid robot engineer confirms neural network:
We’ve trained and deployed a neural net allowing Optimus to start doing useful tasks, such as picking up battery cells coming down a conveyor and precisely inserting them into a tray.
Advancing Tesla Optimus Towards Human-like Proficiency
Tesla is set to take the Optimus to new heights of utility and versatility. The company’s constant pursuit of innovation fuels continual attempts to improve Optimus’ capabilities on various fronts. One major priority area is the improvement of Optimus’ dexterity, with ambitions to increase its hands to 22 degrees of freedom, bringing it closer to human-like performance. This upgrade promises to allow Optimus to do tasks with unprecedented precision and agility, bringing up new possibilities for use in various industries. Additionally, Tesla is working to improve Optimus’ mobility, allowing it to negotiate difficult situations automatically. Achieving full autonomy is critical since it enables Optimus to work independently, increasing efficiency and scalability in real-world applications.
Elon Musk expects limited Optimus production in Tesla’s plants by the end of 2024, with potential external sales beginning in 2025. Tesla understands the importance of enabling Optimus to withstand severe circumstances, ensuring robust performance across various situations. With Optimus, Tesla continues to push the boundaries of humanoid robots through continuous iteration and improvement.
