Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur behind Tesla, took to social media to showcase the company’s humanoid robot named ‘Optimus.’ In a video posted on Monday, Optimus greeted Musk’s followers with a graceful ‘Namaste’ while gracefully performing yoga postures.
Optimus made its debut during Tesla AI Day in October of the previous year, where it was introduced as a promising addition to Tesla’s innovative endeavors. In the recent video shared by Musk, Optimus demonstrates its capabilities by performing various tasks with ease. Notably, the humanoid robot is now equipped with the ability to self-calibrate its arms and legs. Leveraging vision and joint position encoders, Optimus precisely locates its limbs in space, ensuring accurate and smooth movements.
In the video, after a productive day of work, Optimus takes a moment to unwind through yoga, culminating with a serene ‘Namaste’ gesture. This charming display of flexibility and grace underscores the advancements made in humanoid robotics, marking another milestone in Tesla’s journey toward innovation and automation.
Optimus is powered by a neural net that operates entirely on-board and relies on vision, demonstrating its ability to adapt and learn tasks such as sorting and un-sorting colored blocks. The robot’s artificial intelligence (AI) software and sensors draw from Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system known as ‘Autopilot.’ While the cost of Optimus is estimated to be around $20,000, its potential impact on various industries is substantial.
Designed for mass production, Optimus has the potential to be manufactured in the “millions” of units. It is equipped with a 2.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack, capable of sustaining a full day’s work. Powered by a Tesla chip, the robot features Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity, enhancing its functionality and versatility.
One of Optimus’s standout features is its biologically inspired hands, designed to mimic human dexterity. This feature makes the robot well-suited for tasks involving the manipulation of objects of various shapes and sizes, particularly in factory and industrial settings. With a precision grip and the ability to carry a 20-pound bag, Optimus demonstrates its potential to revolutionize various sectors.
Elon Musk’s unveiling of Optimus is a testament to Tesla’s commitment to innovation and automation, offering a glimpse into a future where humanoid robots play a significant role in everyday life. Musk has previously stated that these robots could be priced at “probably less than $20,000,” making them accessible to a wide range of applications.
As Tesla continues to push the boundaries of technology, Optimus represents a bold step toward a future where robotics and automation reshape the way we work and live.
