Tag: Optimus

  • Tesla to Launch 5,000 Optimus Robots in 2025, Says Elon Musk

    Tesla to Launch 5,000 Optimus Robots in 2025, Says Elon Musk

    Key Takeaways

    1. Tesla aims to produce a “legion” of Optimus humanoid robots by the end of 2025, with an initial goal of 5,000 units this year.
    2. Elon Musk expressed optimism about reaching production goals, hoping for 10,000 to 12,000 components to create the robots.
    3. Musk referred to the production of 5,000 robots as the size of a Roman legion, highlighting the significance of this milestone.
    4. The Optimus robot has been in development since 2021 and was showcased in a prototype during the Cybercab reveal in October 2024.
    5. Musk considers the Optimus robot to be potentially Tesla’s most important product ever created.

    Tesla is a company with many different divisions, one of which focuses on creating robots. Elon Musk, the CEO, has stated that the company plans to astonish the world with a “legion” of Optimus humanoids before the end of 2025.

    Musk’s Announcement

    The billionaire made this statement during an interactive meeting with staff, which was broadcasted live, allowing the public to prepare for the initial production of the two-legged robot. He mentioned that Tesla aims to gather enough components to produce up to 12,000 units this year, but he would be satisfied with 5,000 Optimuses, or a legion.

    Production Goals

    “This year, we’re hopeful to produce around 5,000 Optimus robots. We’re technically shooting for enough parts to create 10,000, maybe even 12,000, but since it’s a completely new product with entirely new everything, I’ll say we’ll consider it a success if we reach half of the 10,000 goal.

    “Even 5,000 robots, that’s about the size of a Roman legion, which is kind of a creepy thought. Just imagining a whole legion of robots, I’ll be like ‘whoa.’ But I really think we will actually create at least one legion of robots this year, and then perhaps 10 legions next year. It’s a cool way to measure it, you know? Units of legion. So maybe around 50,000 next year.”

    Musk’s Optimism

    Musk is always positive about his company’s innovations. He has called the bipedal robot likely the most significant product ever created.

    The Optimus has been in the works since its introduction in 2021, initially presented with an actor designed to resemble a robot. Tesla showcased a prototype the next year but emphasized it during the Cybercab reveal in October 2024, providing a sneak peek of how it interacts with full-sized robots.

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  • Tesla Optimus Robot Gains AI Communication, Hive Mind, Self-Charging

    Tesla Optimus Robot Gains AI Communication, Hive Mind, Self-Charging

    While Tesla’s Vice President for Optimus robot development has confirmed that the bots showcased at the Robotaxi event were helped by human operators, he also mentioned that a significant update with new features is on the way.

    Exciting New Features Announced

    It looks like that update is happening today, as the Optimus team has just revealed a range of new capabilities, some of which might have been demonstrated during the Robotaxi celebrations.

    To start, the Tesla Bot has gained the ability to communicate with other Optimus humanoids nearby, allowing it to map out unfamiliar environments. Additionally, it can now explore "unseen" areas independently.

    Enhanced Physical Abilities

    The robots have also improved their physical skills, now capable of climbing stairs and handling substantial loads, like a 25-pound tray filled with battery cells.

    Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the new Optimus robot is its ability to utilize artificial intelligence and interact with humans through a neural network that operates in real-time on the bots. This means it can recognize and fetch various objects on command, marking a significant step towards functioning as a humanoid butler.

    Autonomous Charging Capabilities

    On the topic of autonomy, the Tesla Bot can now independently search for, find, and plug into the nearest charging station, even in unfamiliar settings.

    Tesla’s Optimus charging connector appears to be situated on its back, and the rear cameras will now assist in locating nearby charging stations.

    It remains uncertain how many of these features were actively used during the Robotaxi presentation, as the Optimus bots there seemed to walk and dance autonomously, yet likely required human help to pour drinks at the bar or engage with attendees.

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  • Tesla’s Optimus Bots Walked and Danced at Robotaxi Event

    Tesla’s Optimus Bots Walked and Danced at Robotaxi Event

    One of the key Tesla engineers involved in the Optimus robot initiative shed some light on how the Tesla Bots behaved during the unveiling of the Robotaxi.

    As Elon Musk hinted that the Optimus robots would be mingling among guests and even serving drinks at the bar after the event, it appears that their ability to perform more intricate tasks was somewhat exaggerated.

    Insights from Tesla’s Engineer

    Milan Kovac, the engineer behind the Tesla Bot, explained that the roughly twenty Optimus units showcased at the event were able to walk and dance independently for four hours. However, when it came to handling more complex functions, the robots didn’t use any mysterious AI to determine who ordered how many drinks; they were actually "human-assisted." This should not come as a surprise.

    Throughout the event, about 20 bots were constantly active—navigating through a busy crowd, dancing, snapping selfies, and even serving drinks and snacks. While they were indeed assisted by humans to some degree to illustrate our vision for a fantastic future, they managed to walk, balance, and dance on their own for approximately four hours, with only one minor incident (a handbag got in the way of a bot’s movement).

    A Showcase of Innovation

    Overall, it was an impressive display, especially when combined with other announcements like the Cybercab and the self-driving minibus.

    The primary goal of featuring the Tesla Bot was to highlight the advancement in the robotic hand’s capabilities, which increased from 11 degrees of freedom to 22. This change significantly enhances the tactile sensing abilities of the robots. Additionally, the demonstration showcased the autonomy and balance of the Tesla Bots.

    Creating appealing demonstration videos is challenging, but ensuring safe, live functioning of numerous humanoid robots for hours in a public outdoor setting set a much higher standard. This effort led to major advancements in full-body control, locomotion, hardware stability, and overall infrastructure.

    Future Prospects

    Nevertheless, the Optimus bots observed pouring drinks with rather slow and careful motions, as well as interacting with attendees, were all under the guidance of human operators. This suggests that Elon Musk’s vision of having an Optimus as a personal butler for $30,000 each is still quite a way off.

    Kovac did hint at some major progress in the autonomy of the Tesla Bots that the company has made, and he teased that more information will be shared with the robot-enthusiast public "soon."

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