Washington DC
CNN
–
Tesla unveiled on Friday a prototype of a humanoid robot it says could be a future product of the automaker.
The robot, dubbed Tesla’s Optimus, walks awkwardly on stage at Tesla AI Day, slowly wave to the rooster crowing and signal with its hand for about a minute. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that for the first time the robot works without a tether. Robot developers often use tethers to support robots because they cannot afford to walk without falling and injuring themselves.
Optimus’s capabilities seem to significantly follow the capabilities of robots from competitors such as the Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics. Boston Dynamics robots have been seen doing turn over and sophisticated execution dance routine no lanyard.
“The robot can actually do a lot more than we just showed you,” Musk said at the event. “We just don’t want it to fall on its face.”
Tesla also showed videos of its robot performing simple tasks like carrying boxes and watering plants with a watering can.
Musk stated that if the robot were to be mass-produced, it would “probably” cost less than $20,000. Tesla maintains the advantage of Optimus compared to competitors will be the ability to navigate independently using technology developed from Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” driver assistance system, as well as save costs from what they do. learned about manufacturing from its automotive division. (“Tesla’s full self-driving” requires an alert and attentive human, ready to take over at any moment, as they are not yet capable of full self-driving.)
Tesla has a history of strong price targets that it ultimately failed to achieve. The Tesla Model 3 has long been promised as a $35,000 car, but can only be purchased briefly for that price, and not directly on its website. The most affordable Tesla Model 3 today price $46,990. When Tesla revealed Cybertruck in 2019, its pickup was not available for purchase as of today, it was said to cost $39,990, but the price has since been removed from Tesla’s website.
Tesla’s AI Day largely intended as a recruiting event to attract talented people to join the company.
Musk claims robots could transform civilization. The robot on display on Friday, despite its limitations compared to competitors, was significantly ahead of what Tesla revealed a year ago, when a person jumped on stage in a robot suit and jump around.
“Last year it was just a person in a robot suit,” Musk said before the robot stepped onto the stage. “We have come a long way. Compared to that, it would be very impressive. ”
Tesla isn’t the first automaker to develop humanoid robots. Together with Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics, Honda has been working on a robot called “Asimo” for nearly 20 years. In its final form, Asimo is a child-sized humanoid robot capable of walking, running, climbing and descending stairs without restraint and manipulating objects with his fingers.
