In 2021, Elon Musk announced a Tesla humanoid robot named Optimus. It is designed to help alleviate the labor shortage, according to Musk, and provide better safety for workers. It could very well be revolutionary, but it still has a long way to go before it’s production-ready and available for purchase.
Based on previous reports, it appears that Optimus will be 5’8″ tall and weigh 125 pounds. He will be able to lift more weight than his entire body weight and carry 45 pounds at 5 miles per hour. Noting his strength maximum lift and speed, Musk said the limitations were not a mistake and were deliberately designed on a physical level, joking to YouTube viewers that “you can run from it and most likely overpower it” by design.
While some might view these physical limitations as a disadvantage, it could help assuage any fears audiences might have about watching films like those in the film. Terminator series and other works of fiction where robots invade the world. However, there will certainly be applications in which it would be useful, for example, to have a robot carrying much more weight.
Musk said the goal behind creating this robot was to take over menial and dangerous tasks from human workers, which would improve safety. Highlighting his support for a future minimum basic income, he told viewers of Tesla’s 2021 AI event that it was designed to help end the labor shortage and expressed his desire of a future where “physical work will be a choice”.
Optimus will use Tesla’s Autopilot software connected to eight cameras feeding its neural network.
Optimus’ cost is unknown at this time, and the same goes for his eventual release. However, non-functional replicas of the robot have appeared in some Tesla stores and showrooms.
In 2022, the world got its first glimpse of a semi-functional Optimus robot – and unlike its 2021 debut, it wasn’t a person dancing in a bodysuit. This prototype was able to wave to the crowd live at the company’s AI Day, even though it wasn’t ready to walk unassisted. In a pre-recorded video, Optimus was seen performing tasks such as watering a plant and demonstrating his lifting ability in a factory.
In March 2023, Musk made waves by predicting that Optimus robots could one day outnumber humans. The update video showed marked improvements, with Optimus able to walk on his own and perform more complex tasks. Musk plans to operate the robot in Tesla factories and sell it to the public.
Musk said there was a “good chance” the company would start shipping some Optimus units in 2025 in the near future. results call with investors in January 2024.
The billionaire himself said during the earnings conference call that he was “often optimistic,” then caveated his Optimus projection by saying, “When there’s a lot of uncertainty and you’re in unknown territory, it is obviously impossible to make a precise prediction. update the public on progress on Optimus every few months. »
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