Tesla releases prototype of a humanoid robot

A prototype of a humanoid robot was released on Friday by Tesla, which it says could be a future product for the automaker.

The robot, named Optimus by Tesla, walked stiffly on stage at Tesla's AI Day, slowly waved 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.

Optimus abilities seem to trail what other robots from competitors like Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics are capable of. 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 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 Optimus will be the 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 very briefly 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 recruit talent to join the company.

Musk claimed that the robot could be transformative for civilization. The robot displayed Friday was ahead of competitors, despite its limitations, as well as what Tesla revealed a year ago, when a person jumped in a robot suit and danced around.

Musk said last year a person was wearing a robot suit, before the robot walked on stage. It is going to be very impressive compared to that. Tesla is not the first automaker to develop a humanoid robot. Honda has been working on robots called 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.