Showing rapid development speed following walking and yoga
Price expected to reach around 26 million won within the next 5 years
Tesla has unveiled a video of the second-generation AI humanoid robot 'Optimus,' which mimics human movements even more closely. It showcased more delicate movements compared to the version revealed last September.
Humanoid Boils Eggs and Does Squats... Tesla Says "Robots Will Soon Be Used in In-House Manufacturing"
On the 12th (local time), Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, released a video of the second-generation Optimus on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Tesla stated, "The walking speed has increased by 30% compared to before, the hands can move in 11 directions, and all fingers are equipped with tactile sensors," adding that the weight has been reduced by about 10 kg from the previous version.
The upgraded Optimus delicately picked up an egg using its thumb and index finger without breaking it and placed it into boiling water.
In response, Electrek, a U.S. electric vehicle specialized media outlet, commented, "One of the most challenging parts of creating a useful humanoid is the hand. It must be sturdy enough to support considerable weight while being precise enough to handle delicate objects." According to the video, "the second-generation Optimus is equipped with new hands that can be regarded as a significant upgrade."
Tesla's humanoid robot 'Optimus Gen2' is shown holding an egg. [Image source=Capture from X (formerly Twitter)]
Optimus also demonstrated going to a gym and performing squats with perfect posture. This showed that it possesses joints capable of balancing and controlling the body even in a squat position.
Following that, Optimus walked between Tesla Cybertrucks at a faster pace than the previous generation. When some questioned whether the walking speed was sped up through editing, Julian Iba?ez, who identified himself as the lead developer of Optimus, clarified on social media, "The video is a complete real-time footage and was not sped up."
Tesla announced plans to soon use robots in its own manufacturing operations and stated that sales will begin once their usefulness is proven.
Last Year It Could Barely Walk, Now It Struts and Does Yoga... "Initial Commercialization Cost of 30 Million Won Creates a Worker Without Vacation"
The humanoid robot 'Optimus Gen 2' developed by Tesla performing a squat. [Image source=Screenshot from X (formerly Twitter)]
The humanoid Optimus, also known as the 'Tesla Bot,' is one of Tesla's AI projects unveiled by Elon Musk in 2021. Musk explained that Optimus would be trained with neural networks to perform basic tasks, replacing simple labor in factories or serving as a house helper and human companion.
After announcing the robot development in 2021, the first physical model revealed in 2022 appeared barely able to walk and only waved to crowds. However, by March of this year, it had advanced enough to roam factories, and in September, it demonstrated yoga poses, showing continuous progress toward human-like movements.
Meanwhile, Musk said at last year's 'Investor Day' that "in the future society, the ratio of humans to humanoids will exceed one to one," adding, "We cannot even predict what kind of economy will unfold in such a future."
He also predicted that the price of this robot would fall below $20,000 (26.4 million won) within the next 3 to 5 years. If so, commercialization would mean the birth of a 'robot worker' who works without vacation at an initial cost of 30 million won.
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