Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed an update about the status of the development of the company's humanoid robot.
Musk states his vision for the company's upcoming humanoid robot, Tesla Optimus, which will soon be available in households over the next decade and could possibly be more affordable than a car.
The CEO was given the opportunity to contribute to the official publication of the Cyberspace Administration of China.
In the column titled "Believing in technology for a better future," Musk reaffirmed his goals for SpaceX, which is to make it possible for humanity to inhabit multiple planets; and for Tesla, which is to hasten the entry of sustainable energy.
To the surprise of many, the executive did not just write about Tesla's electric vehicles or the endeavors of SpaceX, but rather, revealed a portion of the company's humanoid robot.
Tesla Optimus
Tesla is now prioritizing the robot project. Musk made a comparison between cars and robots, saying that the cars in today's generation are increasingly getting smart. They are like web-connected robots on wheels.
He then stated that aside from cars, the reality of humanoid robots is increasingly becoming more and more available.
In 2021, Tesla plans to launch a general-purpose humanoid robot referred to as Tesla Bot, or more commonly known as Tesla Optimus.
According to Electrek, Musk wrote that the Tesla Bot will be designed to resemble a human figure. The robot will have the weight and height of a human adult that can walk fast in small steps, carry or pick up heavy objects, and use its facial screen to have an interactive interface to communicate with other people.
People might wonder why Tesla is designing a robot with legs. Because human society is based on the interaction of a bipedal humanoid with two arms and ten
"So if we want a robot to adapt to its environment and be able to do what humans do, it has to be roughly the same size, shape, and capabilities as a human," he adds.
Tesla Bot for Humans
Tesla Bots are initially positioned to replace people in repetitive, boring, and dangerous tasks. But the vision is for them to serve millions of households, such as cooking, mowing lawns, and caring for the elderly.
Musk acknowledges that in order to accomplish this, robots must develop the necessary intelligence and Tesla needs to increase their manufacturing capabilities.
This year, Tesla intends to introduce the first humanoid robot prototype while concentrating on enhancing its intelligence and finding a solution to the challenges of mass production.
Humanoid robots will become more helpful every year as production is scaled up and expenses are reduced. A house robot could eventually cost less than a car in the future. People may be able to purchase robots for their parents as birthday presents in ten years' time.
According to Interesting Engineering, Musk teased AI Day #2 during the annual Tesla meeting. The event was supposed to be on August 19th but was moved to September 3 by Musk. The CEO also teasingly revealed an image of the Tesla Optimus prototype.
It looks like the robotic hands of the actual Tesla Optimus prototype are forming a love sign in the picture.
He had previously described the rationale behind the postponement of AI Day #2, which was due to the possibility that Tesla would be working on the prototype of Optimus until then.
Musk revealed in January that the development of the Optimus Prime will take precedence over the development of any other product in 2022.
