Tesla’s Next-Gen Optimus Robot Handles an Egg and Dances

Tesla recently provided a sneak peek into the new iteration of its Optimus robot, which has seemingly evolved in terms of agility and versatility compared to its previous version. However, don’t get your hopes up about employing one of these advanced machines to assist with household chores quite yet — we may still have a considerable wait ahead.

Milan Kovac, a key player in the Optimus project, confirmed that the showcased video is an unaltered, real-time demonstration. This gives viewers an authentic understanding of the robot’s capabilities, without any embellishments or CGI enhancements.

The first edition of Optimus was somewhat unsteady and labored in its movements, especially evident during a live demo in which it had trouble walking. In contrast, the latest model showcases much more fluid and graceful movement, potentially attributed to Tesla’s proprietary actuators and sensors. Boasting an articulated neck featuring two degrees of freedom, it also achieves a 30% speed increase in walking, emulating the human foot’s geometry.

The second-generation Optimus is not only more streamlined in appearance but also lighter by a full 10 kilograms, while still retaining all functionalities. Testament to Tesla’s engineering prowess, the robot exhibits superior balance and full-body control, as seen in the video where it squats and then rises effortlessly. The enhancements extend right into the Optimus’ hands, with Tesla asserting that they now possess 11 degrees of freedom and enhanced quickness. The robot’s ability to interact delicately with objects, as demonstrated by it gently handling an egg, indicates a noteworthy leap in sophistication from its predecessor, which was unveiled in September last year.

Despite the mechanical advancements, as Electrek rightly points out, this is just one part of the complex equation. The robot’s real-world application as a “general purpose, bi-pedal, humanoid robot” that can execute unsafe, repetitive, or dull tasks independently and safely necessitates a robust, reliable AI system.

However, achieving this level of AI might still be a far-off goal, especially considering the recent issues Tesla faced with the AI functionality of its cars. The company even had to recall almost all the cars sold in the U.S. due to problems with the Autopilot system. So, while Tesla’s strides in robotics are undeniably impressive, there are still significant hurdles to overcome before we see Optimus handling real-world tasks.