Tesla unveils prototype of a humanoid robot

Tesla has a prototype of a humanoid robot that it says could be a future product for the automaker.

Optimus, dubbed by Tesla's AI Day, walked stiffly on stage, slowly waved at the crowed and gestured with its hands for about a minute. Elon Musk said that the robot was operating without a tether for the first time. Robotics developers often use tethers to support robots because they aren't capable enough to walk without falling and damaging themselves.

The Optimus abilities appear to be much more than what a competitor like Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics can do. Boston Dynamics robots have been seen doing back flips and performing sophisticated dance routines without a tether.

Musk said at the event that the robot can do a lot more than we showed you. Tesla also showed videos of its robot performing simple tasks like carrying boxes and watering plants with a watering can.

Musk claimed that if the robot were produced in mass quantities, it would probably cost less than $20,000. Tesla maintains that the Optimus advantage over competitors will be its ability to navigate independently using technology developed from Tesla's driver-assistance system Full Self Driving, as well as cost savings from what it has learned about manufacturing from its automotive division. Tesla s Full Self Driving requires a human that is alert and attentive, ready to take over at any time, as it is not yet capable of fully driving itself. Tesla has a history of aggressive price targets that it doesn't reach. The Tesla Model 3 was promised as a $35,000 vehicle, but it could only be purchased for that price, and not directly on its website. The most affordable Tesla Model 3 is priced at $46,990. When Tesla revealed the Cybertruck in 2019, its pick-up truck that remains unavailable for purchase today, it was said to cost $39,990, but the price has been removed from Tesla's website.

The purpose of Tesla AI Day is to attract talented people to join the company.

Musk claimed that the robot could be transformative for civilization. A year ago, when a person jumped on stage in a robot suit and danced around, the robot displayed Friday was ahead of its competitors despite its limitations.

Musk said last year, a person in a robot suit, was just a person in a robot suit. It is going to be very impressive compared to that. Tesla is not the first automaker to develop a humanoid robot. Honda worked on robots dubbed Asimo for nearly 20 years, along with Hyundai's Boston Dynamics. Asimo was a child-sized humanoid robot capable of walking, running, climbing, and descending stairs, and manipulating objects with its fingers.