Tesla introduces Optimus 2, a new humanoid robot

Tesla has produced a video demonstrating the most recent iteration of its prototype humanoid robot, Optimus Gen 2. Things have evidently evolved quite a bit in the year since Tesla's first public Optimus robot display, which included unsteady robots that waved and flopped over, assuming that the video truly portrays the technology.

At AI Day 2022, Tesla displays unfinished humanoid robot prototypes.

"There is no CGI in this video; everything is real." Nothing is sped up, everything is in real time. "The team has made incredible hardware improvements," commented Tesla Senior Staff Software Engineer Julian Ibarz on X.

Following a recent incident in which Google fudged an AI presentation for the benefit of marketing hype, Tesla's promises should be taken with a grain of salt until they are independently verified in practical, real-world demonstrations. With that in mind, let's look at what Tesla is offering with this non-production prototype robot.

The promotional film begins with a view of "Bumblebee," Tesla's first humanoid prototype, which will be ready in September 2022. After that, it displays "Optimus - Gen 1" from March 2023. After some intriguing views of another robot, the film displays lettering that reads, "Introducing Optimus - Gen 2. December 2023." While performing various tasks such as walking slowly, crouching, manipulating eggs without shattering them, and waving its arms, it lists out these features:

• Tesla-designed actuators and sensors
• 2-DoF (degrees of freedom) actuated neck
• Actuators-integrated electronics and harnessing
• 30 percent walk speed boost
• Foot force/torque sensing
• Articulated toe sections
• Human foot geometry
• 10 kg total weight reduction
• Improved balance and full-body control
• Faster, 11-DoF brand-new hands
• Tactile sensing on all fingers
• Delicate objects manipulation (holding an egg)

As previously stated, the Optimus Gen 2 is not intended for mass production or sale. As a prototype, it symbolizes a possible step toward a more functional human robot, which Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims will be capable of doing everything people don't want to do. It is designed to be the same shape and size as humans in order to seamlessly replace human labor. Simply replace a human with an Optimus in any application.

Given the limitations of engineering, it remains to be seen if and when that human labor substitution will ever occur, but if the video is accurate, it appears like Tesla is making great progress toward its aim.