Tesla has unveiled a new, upgraded hand for its Optimus humanoid robot, showcasing its improved dexterity and tendons, similar to those found in human hands. The new hand features 22 degrees of freedom on the hand, three on the wrist, and forearm, allowing for more realistic movements.
The upgrade comes as Tesla continues to develop the Optimus program, which has faced controversy over the lack of transparency regarding its robots’ operation. In a recent demonstration, the company acknowledged that its robots were teleoperated, sparking concerns about job displacement.
Milan Kovac, head of the Optimus program, highlighted the remaining work to be completed by the end of the year, focusing on extended tactile sensing integration, fine controls through tendons, and weight reduction. Tesla is already using some Optimus robots in its factory, with plans to ramp up production next year.
Industry experts agree that humanoid robots are making significant progress, particularly in achieving dexterity and autonomy comparable to humans. With AI advancements rapidly improving robotic capabilities, it’s essential to have robotics ready for deployment before AI achieves high levels of usability within robots. Tesla is expected to achieve this milestone before its unsupervised robotaxi service.
Tesla’s focus on humanoid robots demonstrates the company’s commitment to developing robots that can complement human abilities, rather than replace them. The upgraded Optimus hand is a step towards creating more realistic and functional robots, paving the way for future advancements in robotics and AI integration.
Source: https://electrek.co/2024/11/29/tesla-unveils-upgraded-optimus-robot-hand-but-impressive-demo-is-again-teleoperated