Tesla has released a short video of the latest version of its Optimus humanoid robot. This is the Tesla Optimus Gen 2.0 robot; It's a major upgrade over the version we saw in early September.
This new video (below) shows the Optimus robot performing much more complex tasks with advanced mechanics than the 1st-generation Tesla shown at last year's Artificial Intelligence Day. Since AI Day 2022, Tesla has mostly been talking about the AI capabilities of its Optimus robot.
Tesla's latest humanoid robot update is mostly about its newly acquired physical form and abilities. Tesla Optimus Gen 2 has a significantly improved appearance.
Tesla Optimus Gen 2.0 humanoid robot easily handles delicate objects such as eggs.
The Tesla Optimus Gen 2.0 humanoid robot easily manipulates delicate objects, such as eggs, using human-like tactile sensing.
Optimus's design was "Biologically Inspired", according to Tesla. For this reason, Tesla is trying to keep the design of its robot as close to human as possible.
Although Tesla designed the arms for the Optimus Gen 1 with attention to detail, the manufacturer completely redesigned them for the Gen 2 in the spirit of its continuous improvement methodology.
The new Tesla Optimus hands can perform sensitive tasks more accurately thanks to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and sensing capabilities. As we can see in the video screenshot above, Optimus lifts an egg from the pot with his left hand, changes hands, and puts the egg into the pot with his right hand, of course, without breaking it.
All of this is possible thanks to Tesla Optimus's newly acquired tactile sensing ability. Tactile sensing in humans works through a series of sensors on our skin.
Talking about the progress in the hands of the Tesla Optimus robot, Elon Musk predicted that he will be able to thread the needle within a year. This will be very interesting to watch because threading a needle by hand is an extremely complex task; At least for a robot.
In addition to the hands, Tesla also enhanced his feet and neck with improved degrees of freedom (DoF) in Optimus Gen 2. It can now sense how much force/torque it is applying while walking. The Tesla Optimus humanoid robot's feet have been redesigned using human foot geometry, and its toes have been articulated to allow for more flexible movements.
All improvements made to the Optimus Gen 2 robot's feet resulted in a 30% increase in walking speed. Tesla showed off the Optimus walk in this latest video (below). Just last year, at Artificial Intelligence Day 2022, Tesla engineers had to make this happen, as the 1st generation Optimus could not walk onto the stage alone.
Speaking of balance and feet, Tesla Optimus can finally dance.
Source: https://www.teslaoracle.com/2023/12/22/tesla-optimus-humanoid-robot-will-be-able-to-thread-a-needle-in-a-year-says-elon-musk/
