Tesla Humanoid Robot Optimus: A Bare-Bones Look

A video update of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, was shared by Elon Musk this week.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the Tesla CEO wrote “going for a walk with Optimus.”

In contrast to previous videos of the robot, Optimus is shown stripped of its external casing, instead displaying its wiring and gears. 

The demonstration is the latest in a series of regular updates on Optimus’ mobility. This one comes on the heels of Tesla’s recently released video showing Optimus folding laundry.

Both videos show the second generation of Optimus, which Tesla shifted from its earlier prototype last December, in what the company said was a significant step forward for its robot design.

Lead engineer Milan Kovac wrote on X that “2023 has been awesome for Optimus,” saying Tesla has made progress in updating the robot’s dexterity, locomotion and autonomous capabilities. 

“We’ve improved our locomotion stack, frequently walking off-gantry without falls and with a faster, increasingly more human-like walking gait,” Kovac wrote.

Since its launch in 2021, Tesla has been providing a steady stream of teasers for its humanoid robot design, though limited details have been shared about its full capabilities. 

While Musk told reporters in an earnings call that there was a good chance the first units of Optimus would be shipped to customers this year, an exact timeline has not been disclosed.

Related:Tesla Humanoid Robot Optimus Folds Laundry in New Video

“Optimus is a very new product and an extremely revolutionary product,” Musk said. “It has the potential to far exceed the value of everything else at Tesla combined…it’s by far the most sophisticated humanoid robot that’s being developed,

“I think we’ve got a good chance of shipping some number of Optimus units next year, but as I said it’s a brand new product and there’s a lot of uncertainty when you’re in uncharted territory.”