Tesla's Second-Generation Humanoid Robot Optimus Debuts at WAIC, Walking Speed Increased by 30%

2024-07-05

At the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2024), Tesla unveiled its second-generation humanoid robot, Optimus, marking another significant advancement in the field of robotics for the company. Compared to its predecessor, Optimus has made significant improvements in its ability to walk upright, with a 30% increase in walking speed, demonstrating higher flexibility and efficiency. Of particular note is the remarkable "evolution" of Optimus' finger functionality. Not only can it perceive and touch, but it can also seamlessly switch between delicate tasks such as gently gripping an egg and lifting heavy objects, showcasing its wide range of potential applications. Currently, the robot is undergoing preliminary application testing at Tesla's factory. With the use of advanced visual neural networks and FSD chip technology, it can mimic human operations and participate in production tasks such as battery sorting, marking a solid step towards practicality. Tesla revealed plans to initiate limited production of Optimus next year, with over 1,000 robots initially deployed in their own factories to assist humans in various tasks on the production line. The company's long-term goal is even more ambitious. Elon Musk predicts that humanoid robots will become the main force in the industrial sector, with a global quantity expected to reach 10 to 20 billion units. Tesla aims to achieve an annual production volume of 1 billion units, capturing a market share of over 10%. Through cost control strategies, the company plans to keep the cost of each robot at around $10,000 and intends to market them at a price of $20,000. This is expected to open up a massive new market for the company, with a total value estimated to be between $25 trillion and $30 trillion.