Optimus’ latest demonstration is impressive to say the least, even if everything is not perfect yet. In the video, the robot is seen climbing up and down hills covered in wood chips, a challenge for its sensors and algorithms. Milan Kovac, vice president of engineering for Optimus, says the robot does not use a camera or vision system to analyze its environment. It moves “blindly,” relying solely on position sensors and algorithms to maintain balance.
It slips… but it stays upright!
The slips and hesitations are present, but Optimus manages to remain standing without external intervention. Milan Kovac, who admits to having lost his balance himself on the same terrain, emphasizes that this kind of demonstration is a big step forward for the stability of the robot. The team is already working on improvements, such as making his gait more fluid and natural, or even teaching him to get up on his own if he falls.
Twitter-tweet” data-width=”500″ data-dnt=”true”>
Daily walks help clear your mind pic.twitter.com/dUsW58trS6
— Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) December 9, 2024
Optimus is not just a prototype for viral videos. Tesla already uses it in its factories for simple tasks, such as sorting battery cells. But Elon Musk sees much further. The objective is to produce a versatile robot, capable of accomplishing varied missions in complex environments.
In a previous demonstration, Optimus caught a tennis ball with the help of operators. Donald Trump’s support promises that, by next year, the robot will be able to perform this task completely autonomously. To achieve this, Tesla is working on hands equipped with 22 degrees of freedom.
Mass production of Optimus is expected to begin in 2026, and the first external deliveries are announced before 2027. In the meantime, the team continues to improve its capabilities, whether in terms of stability, responsiveness to commands or protection sensitive components.
The video, as is often the case with Tesla, triggered varied reactions. Some welcome the progress made, including the exclusive use of sensors to navigate difficult terrain. Others, less impressed, mock a still somewhat hesitant approach. It must be said that, compared to Boston Dynamics’ ultra-stable quadruped robots, Optimus still seems to have a way to go.
Despite everything, Tesla is moving forward at its own pace, with a pragmatic approach: reducing production costs and gradually improving performance. Optimus may still be clumsy, but the automaker is clearly ready to invest a lot of its resources to impose its solution.
🟣 To not miss any news on the WorldOfSoftware, , .
