Washington DC
CNN
–
Tesla unveiled a prototype of a humanoid robot on Friday that it says could be a future product for the automaker.
Dubbed Optimus by Tesla, the robot strutted across the stage at Tesla AI Day, slowly waving and gesticulating with its hands for a minute at the crowd. According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the robot is operating without a harness for the first time. Robotics developers often use tethers to support robots because they are not strong enough to walk without falling and injuring themselves.
Optimus’ capabilities seem to closely follow what robots from competitors such as Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics can do. Boston Dynamics robots have been seen performing backflips and performing elaborate dance routines without tethers.
“The robot can do a lot more than what we’ve shown you,” Musk said at the event. “We didn’t want it to fall flat on its face.”
Tesla showed a video of the robot carrying out simple tasks like carrying boxes and watering plants.
Musk said the robot would “probably” cost less than $20,000 if mass-produced. Tesla maintains that Optimus advantage. It will be its ability to move alone over competitors, with technology developed from Tesla’s driver-assistance system “Full Self-Driving” as well as cost savings learned from its automotive division about manufacturing. (Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” can’t yet fully drive itself, so it requires an alert and attentive person, ready to take over at any moment.)
Tesla has a history of aggressive price targets that ultimately cannot be met. The Tesla Model 3 has long been promised as a $35,000 vehicle, but it can be bought for that price in a short time, and not directly on the website. The most affordable Tesla Model 3 is now priced at $46,990. When Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck in 2019, a pickup truck that is not available for purchase today, it was said to cost $39,990, but that price has been removed from Tesla’s website.
Tesla AI Day is mostly intended as a recruiting event to attract talented people to join the company.
Musk said the robot could revolutionize civilization. The robot, which was on display Friday, was ahead of Tesla’s debut a year ago, when a man dressed as a robot jumped on stage and danced around, despite its limitations compared to competitors.
“Last year it was just a guy in a robot suit,” Musk said before the robot took to the stage. “We’ve come a long way. Compared to this, it will be very impressive.
Tesla isn’t the first automaker to develop a humanoid robot. Along with Hyundai Boston Dynamics, Honda has worked on robots named “Asimo” for almost 20 years. In its final form, Asimo was a child-sized humanoid robot that could untethered walk, run, climb and descend stairs, and manipulate objects with its fingers.
