Tesla has introduced its latest groundbreaking innovation—the Optimus humanoid robot.
Story Summary:
- Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot, revealed at the We, Robot event, is designed to perform household and industrial tasks autonomously.
- The robot stands at 5’8″ with advanced mobility, using Tesla’s neural network AI system to learn tasks and assist in various settings.
- Optimus is expected to cost between $20,000 and $30,000 (around R385,000 to R577,000), aiming to make advanced robotics accessible to middle-class homes and industries.
Tesla unveils the Optimus robot
Showcased by CEO Elon Musk at the We, Robot event, Optimus is poised to revolutionise both home life and industrial sectors.
Described by Musk as potentially “the biggest product ever,” Optimus can perform a wide range of tasks, from helping around the house to executing repetitive or dangerous industrial jobs.
Standing at 5’8″ (173 cm) and weighing up to 73 kg, the robot’s 28 actuators allow it to move fluidly and handle objects with impressive dexterity.
Powered by Tesla’s neural network AI system, it can autonomously learn tasks, navigate spaces, and assist with household chores like folding laundry or walking pets.
In factories, Optimus is already being tested for tasks such as moving parts and assisting with assembly lines.
How much it will cost to own a humanoid
Tesla’s Optimus robot comes with a surprising price tag for such advanced technology.
Elon Musk estimates that once mass production is achieved, Optimus will be priced between $20,000 and $30,000 (around R385,000 to R577,000 as of October 2024).
This makes Optimus significantly more affordable than most humanoid robots on the market, which can cost over $100,000 (around R1.9 million).
Tesla aims to make the Optimus robot a common tool for households and industries, with businesses likely to find it economically viable to replace human labour with Optimus for various repetitive tasks.
Musk envisions a future where humanoid robots like Optimus are as commonplace as smartphones and personal computers, democratising access to cutting-edge robotics technology.
