“A New Era Begins: Musk Promises Humanoid Robots Will Join Tesla’s Workforce This Year”
According to the CEO, Optimus Gen 2, his “domestic” robot, is scheduled to be sold to the public in 2026.
Elon Musk, CEO of the car manufacturer Tesla, announced on July 22 that the company is willing to incorporate humanoid robots to perform tasks until now entrusted to flesh-and-blood employees. According to information from the Reuters news agency , although small-scale production will begin at the end of 2024, to meet the company’s internal needs, the goal is to launch it on the market in 2026.
In April, the tycoon had claimed that Optimus, his humanoid robot, would be able to perform the tasks of factory workers by the end of this year, imagining that it would be ready for sale to the public by the end of 2025. A projection that, in light of the new elements advanced by the CEO, seems to have been half-fulfilled.
What is Optimus like?
True to its category, Optimus is a human-shaped robot that integrates cameras to monitor its surroundings. It is equipped with a brain similar in processing and functions to Tesla’s autonomous vehicles and has a total of 40 electromechanical joints: twelve in the legs, twelve in the arms, twelve in the hands and two in the neck and trunk.
According to the brand, Optimus Gen 2 will be able to perform household tasks, although unlike the first version, it will have the ability to execute smoother and more natural movements.
Projects on the ground
For years, some of the world’s electronics superpowers have been focused on developing their own humanoid robots , such as Honda and Hyundai, through its US subsidiary Boston Dynamics. The reason for their efforts is the potential shortage of labor for repetitive tasks that have been or could be tedious and even dangerous for humans in areas such as logistics, warehousing and production.
Elon Musk has previously announced projects that did not materialise within the stated timeframe. One example is the promise made in 2019 to Tesla investors that the giant would be able to operate a fully-fledged robotaxi network by 2020.Quantum technology will revolutionize human life with these plans
Tesla unveiled the realization of a humanoid robot in 2021. A year later, in October 2022, the car manufacturer launched the first generation of Optimus, while in December 2023 it made official the second generation of the automaton.
