24-4-2024 (CALIFORNIA) Tesla’s humanoid robot, currently in the developmental phase, could potentially hit the market by the end of next year, CEO Elon Musk revealed during a conference call on Tuesday.
Numerous companies are banking on humanoid robots to address potential labour shortages and undertake repetitive or hazardous tasks prevalent in industries such as logistics, warehousing, retail, and manufacturing.
Musk informed investors that he anticipates Tesla’s robot, dubbed Optimus, to be capable of executing tasks within the factory premises by the conclusion of this year.
Japan’s Honda and Hyundai Motor’s Boston Dynamics have been pioneering the development of humanoid robots for several years. This year, Microsoft and Nvidia-backed startup Figure announced a partnership with German automaker BMW to deploy humanoid robots within the car manufacturer’s U.S. facility.
Billionaire Musk has previously suggested that robot sales could surpass other segments, including car manufacturing, to become a significant part of Tesla’s business.
“I think Tesla is best positioned of any humanoid robot maker to be able to reach volume production with efficient inference on the robot itself,” Musk remarked during Tuesday’s call, referencing the artificial intelligence capabilities.
However, Musk’s track record includes instances of failing to deliver on ambitious promises to Wall Street. In 2019, he projected that Tesla would establish a network of “robotaxi” autonomous cars by 2020.
Tesla unveiled the first generation of its Optimus robot, dubbed Bumblebee, in September 2022. This year, the company showcased a video of a second-generation version of the bipedal robot folding a T-shirt at its facility.
In contrast, Figure released a video in February featuring its 01 robot brewing coffee, while Boston Dynamics recently unveiled an electric platform for its Atlas humanoid robot. The video showcased Atlas transitioning from a lying down state to standing and walking, demonstrating its agility and versatility.
We promise this is not a person in a bodysuit. https://t.co/S9FgfpqvrW pic.twitter.com/G30sXHQ93C
— Boston Dynamics (@BostonDynamics) April 17, 2024
