Imminent impact: The arrival of humanoid robots from Tesla, Elon Musk's company, and its effects on the current workforce
The future of repetitive tasks and potentially dangerous in several sectors, including logistics, storage, retail and manufacturing, could be in the hands of humanoid robots, according to recent statements by businessman Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla.
Recently, in a conference call with investors, Musk revealed that the company's humanoid robot, known as Optimus, is still in development, but could be ready for its commercial launch at the end of next year, that is, in 2025.
This announcement positions Tesla at a point of interest within the growing investment and collaboration between artificial intelligence technology and the manufacturing industry.
What does Elon Musk think about integrating Optimus into society
Musk's vision regarding robotics and its integration into the productive fabric is not unique, but it stands out for its ambition to massify the production of humanoid robots.
With Tesla at the forefront of this revolution, thanks to its known innovative capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence and autonomy technology, the Optimus project could be a game changer across multiple industrial sectors, competing with other global companies that are also working on their own. projects.
Likewise, the growth of interest in the development of humanoid robots is not recent. Renowned companies such as Honda and Boston Dynamics, the latter part of Hyundai Motor, have been researching and developing in this area for several years.
Furthermore, the startup Figure, supported by important companies in the technology sector such as Microsoft and Nvidia, announced a collaboration with the German car manufacturer BMW to implement humanoid robots in its facilities in the United States.
This growing enthusiasm for advanced robotics highlights the potential of these developments to transform entire industries, making them more efficient and safer.
Elon Musk's bet on these humanoid robots
Musk has repeatedly indicated that robots could prove to be a more commercially significant sector for Tesla than its electric cars. This statement highlights the CEO's confidence in Tesla's artificial intelligence technology and its ability to produce en masse these automatons.
However, while expectations are high, Musk has faced criticism for previous promises that did not materialize as planned, a notable example being the promise of a fleet of autonomous “robo-taxis” for 2020, which did not occur as expected.
Furthermore, the reveal of the first generation of Optimus, affectionately named Bumblebee, in September 2022, followed by a demonstration of his abilities performing simple tasks like folding clothes, marks the tangential beginning of this futuristic vision.
This is Optimus Gen 2, Tesla's humanoid robot.
Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 is an improved version of the humanoid robot the company announced a few years ago. It is much lighter, weighing up to 10 kg less than the previous version, although it does not sacrifice any of the features. In fact, the new robot includes important improvements, such as a powered neck with movement control. This allows Optimus Gen 2 to move its neck similar to how a human would.
Tesla also improved the humanoid robot's feet with a design similar to a real person's feet, which allowed Optimus Gen 2 to walk up to 30% faster than the previous generation.
The Tesla Optimus Gen 2, which uses sensors developed by the company itself, also has hands capable of moving its fingers more fluidly. In them, Tesla included sensors dedicated to detecting pressure to be able to manipulate delicate objects, such as eggs or crystals, without destroying them.
As for the price, Elon Musk revealed that the Optimus Gen 2 would be between 25.000 and 30.000 dollars. Although, yes, he stated that it would cost less over time.
The competition to see who wins in the development of humanoid robots
In fact, the Tesla is not alone in making significant advances in this field. The presentation of Figure's coffee-making robot 01 and the electric platform for Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot highlight a remarkable evolution and growing potential of humanoid robots in work and everyday environments.
Thus, the race to develop and implement humanoid robots in industry not only represents a groundbreaking technological achievement, but also raises important questions about the future of work, the ethics of artificial intelligence, and the safety of interactions between robots and humans.
Therefore, as the date promised by Elon Musk for the launch of Optimus approaches, the world is in anticipation, waiting to see how these promises materialize and what new work paradigm emerges in the era of advanced robotics.
Source: hypertextual.com
