On December 10, Tesla posted a video on the social network X, showing the ability of the humanoid robot Optimus to balance and move on gravel terrain. In the video, the robot Optimus climbed up and down slopes steadily without falling, even when faced with slippery surfaces. Although its gait was not really natural, the robot impressed with its outstanding ability to adjust its balance.
Milan Kovac, VP of engineering for Optimus, said the robot doesn’t need to “see” to move. This means Optimus doesn’t use visual data to analyze the terrain, but relies entirely on its internal balance. Interestingly, Milan Kovac revealed that he slipped on a slope that the robot could easily climb.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk retweeted the video, noting that Optimus uses neural networks to control its limbs, allowing it to move flexibly on highly variable terrain. The clip quickly attracted more than 46 million views in just one day, with many positive comments. Many people compared Optimus to Atlas, the famous humanoid robot from Boston Dynamics, and expected Tesla to commercialize the product sooner than expected.
Tesla is planning to upgrade Optimus with a number of new AI features. One of them is the integration of Tesla Vision, the semi-autonomous driving system used in its vehicles. Other improvements are also in the works, including making the robot’s gait more natural and human-like, improving its ability to respond to commands like speed and direction, and learning to reduce damage from falls and get back up on its own.
Tesla first introduced Optimus in 2021 and unveiled its first prototype in 2022. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds and sporting a head-mounted display, the robot has made significant progress over the past two years. In addition to climbing hills, Optimus can perform tasks like folding laundry, doing yoga, and navigating around Tesla's factory. In October, the robot made its first public demonstration, although it was reportedly remote-controlled.
Tesla aims to mass produce Optimus in 2026 and deliver the first products by 2027. The company is already using the robot for some basic tasks at the factory, such as sorting battery cells on the production line. With steady progress, Optimus is expected to be a new breakthrough in the field of robotics technology.
