Tesla's new humanoid robot Optimus Gen 2 unveiled

The humanoid Optimus robot, also known as the Tesla Bot, did not attract much attention or receive positive reactions when it was first introduced. This was because it appeared to be in the very early stages compared to its competitors. Now, however, following a series of other updates, Tesla has completely overhauled its humanoid robot with the Gen 2. Optimus is now faster (by 30 percent), lighter, smoother, and more capable.

OPTIMUS GEN 2 IS MUCH MORE CAPABLE

According to details featured on Donanımhaber, it has been a little over two years since Tesla and Elon Musk entered the humanoid robot industry. When we saw the first prototype last year, the robot looked very "plain," but in March of this year, the company showcased a much more advanced version. Just ten short months later, a brand new Optimus Gen 2 has emerged.

Optimus Gen 2 features a two-degree-of-freedom neck, integrated electronics and wiring, and a more human-like shape with articulated foot sections and force/torque sensors. It also has 11 degrees of freedom, faster actuators, and brand-new hands with tactile sensors on all fingers to ensure more skillful handling of objects. It looks much more aerodynamic and humanoid, moves much more smoothly, and has better balance. Despite all this, the robot itself is now 10 percent lighter.

While Optimus Gen 2 looks like a major step forward, we can still say it is quite far behind Boston Dynamics and its extraordinary Atlas robot. However, Tesla's pace of development is much faster. On the other hand, no matter how striking the hardware displayed by Tesla and other similar firms may look, the hardware side is likely the least significant of the obstacles. The only thing humanoid robot manufacturers need to do is prove that their robots can perform real work in the real world in a repeatable, reliable, and flexible manner.

Nevertheless, Tesla is one of the companies closest to this primary goal. The company stated that it plans to start using the robot in its own manufacturing operations soon. Once it proves its utility, Tesla plans to start selling the robot. Tesla believes this is possible by leveraging its artificial intelligence work from its self-driving vehicle program and its expertise in batteries and electric motors.