Product Description
Tesla’s engineering team, led by Milan Kovac, has made remarkable advancements in the development of their humanoid robot, Optimus, throughout 2023. Reflecting on the year’s achievements, Kovac shared insights into the evolution from the early prototype, Bumblebee/cee, to the more refined and stable Optimus Gen-1.
“2023 has been phenomenal for Optimus,” Kovac remarked yesterday. He highlighted the transition to a Tesla-designed platform, Optimus Gen-1, which has seen substantial improvements in various aspects of its design and functionality.
One of the key areas of advancement has been in the robot’s locomotion capabilities. “We’ve significantly enhanced our locomotion stack, enabling Optimus to walk off-gantry more frequently without falling. The robot’s walking gait is now faster and increasingly resembles human movement,” Kovac explained. He also pointed out the creation of a low-latency, high-fidelity teleoperation system used for AI training, where the robot mirrors human actions in real-time to learn specific tasks.
In the realm of artificial intelligence, Tesla has made groundbreaking progress. “We’ve designed, trained, and deployed some of the first end-to-end neural networks for humanoid robots. These neural nets allow Optimus to autonomously perform tasks that require coordinated control of its torso, arms, and full hands with fingers,” Kovac noted. This innovation marks a significant milestone in the field of humanoid robotics.
The development of Optimus Gen-2 has further pushed the boundaries of what the robot can achieve. This new iteration features an articulated neck, redesigned hands equipped with tactile sensing, and a tighter integration of various components, enhancing its overall functionality and dexterity.
Kovac attributed these advancements to a combination of a dedicated team, a flexible and flat operational structure, extensive AI infrastructure, and the technological foundation built from years of work in Tesla’s automotive sector. He also acknowledged the pivotal role of Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, stating, “Elon’s vision and willingness to tackle challenging problems for the betterment of humanity have been crucial to our success.”
Looking forward to 2024, Kovac expressed optimism about further achievements, including the addition of manufacturing lines for Optimus. He encouraged talented individuals to join Tesla in making the upcoming year even more remarkable. “I wish you all a wonderful, happy New Year,” Kovac concluded, highlighting Tesla’s unique position in pioneering a future of abundance.
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