Leading American electric automaker Tesla released an update regarding the Optimus Bot production figures, which turned out to be lower than some anticipated.
In hindsight, Tesla shared a video in May showing the progress of the humanoid robot development. One Optimus can walk and move independently, while the other one requires human assistance. The new capabilities of humanoid robots revealed in the video update, such as hand movements and independent navigation, also demonstrate that the project is on track to succeed.
However, after the May video, Tesla has not provided any update regarding its humanoid robot development. In effect, investors and enthusiasts are increasingly concerned about the technology’s production figures.
Investor query
Tesla CEO Elon Musk received a query from a retail investor regarding the Optimus Bot production figures during the company’s Q2 2023 Earnings Call.
In response, the Tesla boss initially joked that the company currently has 10 million active Optimus Robots. Nevertheless, he disclosed the actual figures.
“I think we’re around 5 or 6 bots…But it’s sort of — yes, there’s more every month. There’s a lot of interesting things about the Optimus bot.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk
Apparently, Tesla was only able to produce this limited number of Optimus Bots due to an actuator supply issue. The company also learned that no other firm could make the appropriate device for the Optimus Bot.
For context, an actuator is one that generates motion by converting power and signals that enter a system.
“So, we’ve actually had to design our own actuators that integrate the motor or the power electronics, the controller, the sensors. And really, every one of them is custom designed.
And then, of course, we’ll be using the same inference hardware as the car. But we are, in designing these actuators, designing them for volume production. So, they’re not just lighter, tighter, and more capable than any other actuators wherever that exist in the world, but it’s also actually manufacturable. So, we should be able to make them in volume.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk
The Tesla boss further noted that the first “sort of production candidate actuators integrated and walking should be around November-ish.” After that, Tesla will begin Optimus’ production ramp-up.
See Also:
- Tesla launches its Optimus Bot in North American stores, one is already in NYC
- Tesla releases new Optimus video, showing progress since AI Day 2022
- Tesla’s Optimus Bot project is on a hiring spree for different positions
- Tesla starts utilizing automated quality control at its Fremont factory
- 2022: What Tesla made through the year
In hindsight, Tesla introduced Optimus Bot only about two years ago. The company aims to utilize these humanoid bots to perform monotonous tasks humans may find uninteresting. That said, it can increase the operation efficiency of Tesla’s factories.
Apart from that, it could also provide Tesla with a new source of revenue. Goldman Sachs previously predicted this kind of project could be a $150 billion-a-year business.
