Popular fiction has often explored the concept of humanoid robots near us. There are many movies that are based on the concept and have been widely enjoyed by people of all age groups over the years. And it looks like Elon Musk is very close to turning this concept into reality.
Musk recently unveiled Optimus Gen 2, a humanoid robot that can do more than just walk and talk. Advanced robots have walking speed, hand movements, tactile sensations on fingers and more.
Elon Musk unveils Optimus Gen 2
Sharing a demo video of the robot on X, Musk simply wrote, “Optimus.”
The demo video starts with previous versions of the humanoid robot, which were introduced in 2021 and 2022. Now, the new humanoid is much more advanced and can exercise, boil eggs and even dance. The design of the robot is as stylish as that of a human.
All these capabilities of the humanoid robot are shown in the video. Finally, there is a sweet surprise in store as two Optimus Gen 2 robots are seen dancing.
Optimus Previous Generations
Tesla Optimus, also known as Tesla Bot, is a conceptual humanoid robot under development by Tesla. It was first announced at the company’s AI Day event in 2021, and is intended to be a general-purpose robot capable of handling a wide range of tasks, particularly those that are unsafe, repetitive, or boring for humans.
Optimus is still in development, and Tesla has been releasing several updates demonstrating its progress, with Gen 2 being the latest.
In 2022, Tesla unveiled a prototype that could walk and perform simple tasks like lifting objects. Tesla CEO Elon Musk then said, “This is literally the first time a robot has been operated without any tethers on stage tonight,” when videos of the robot picking up objects and watering plants were displayed. “We didn’t want it to fall flat,” he said.
When unveiling the robot in 2021, Tesla said it was powered by a custom Tesla computer chip and packed the processing punch needed for complex tasks. Like a smartphone, it remains connected to WiFi and LTE, allowing remote updates and control. Audio capabilities ensure clear communication, while built-in cybersecurity features keep its operation secure.
Fueling the machine is a 2.3 kilowatt-hour battery – much more efficient than traditional robots. It promises extended operation without the need for frequent recharging.
Then, the Optimus Gen 1 was unveiled in March this year. And more details about the robot were shared in September. One of the things that caught our attention was that Teslabot works on end-to-end neural networks, the same technology that powers Tesla’s electric cars. In a demo video, Teslabot was seen doing yoga.
