Tesla to rent out its Optimus humanoid robots ahead of sales
How does Tesla plan to implement the rental and sale options for the Optimus robot, and what is the anticipated timeline for each?
Tesla plans to implement rental and sale options for its Optimus robot, with the company set to rent the technology out before starting sales. Elon Musk revealed this in a statement on X, but did not disclose any other details, such as who Tesla plans to rent the bot out to, or what an Optimus rental program may look like for consumers and other companies. According to Musk, Tesla is expecting to begin selling Optimus by next year.
As for the timeline, Musk expects Tesla's factories to be utilizing more than a thousand Optimus units by next year. He also mentioned that Optimus will have 22 degrees of freedom with its hands later this year, up from its current level of just 11 degrees of freedom. This update is expected to help unlock further proficiency with regard to the robot's fine motor skills, effectively bringing the technology in line with those of humans.
Recent video updates from Tesla have shown that Optimus can now perform certain tasks autonomously, and its walking speed has increased substantially over the past several months. During Tesla’s 2024 stockholder’s meeting held this week, Musk also said that multiple Optimus robots are already performing work at the company’s factory in Fremont, California, mostly sorting battery cells and setting them into shipping containers.
How does Elon Musk envision the role of over a thousand Optimus units in Tesla’s factories by next year?
Elon Musk envisions the role of over a thousand Optimus units in Tesla's factories by next year as a significant workforce contributing to various tasks. During Tesla's 2024 stockholder's meeting, Musk mentioned that multiple Optimus robots are already performing work at the company's factory in Fremont, California, primarily sorting battery cells and setting them into shipping containers. By having over a thousand Optimus units in Tesla's factories, Musk expects the humanoid robots to undertake a range of useful tasks, ultimately improving the efficiency and productivity of the company's operations.
In addition to sorting battery cells, Optimus robots are designed to perform other factory tasks, showcased in various video updates from Tesla. The robots have demonstrated their ability to walk, carry objects, and even do physical movements like yoga. With an expected upgrade to 22 degrees of freedom with their hands later this year, the Optimus robots' fine motor skills will become more proficient, allowing them to perform tasks with nearly the same proficiency as a human being.
Musk also sees the potential for Optimus to be more valuable than the company's cars, as he mentioned during the earnings call. This belief is based on the idea that the humanoid robot could enter limited production before the end of 2024 and be sold externally by the end of 2025. If successful, this would mark a significant shift in Tesla's business focus, with robots playing a more prominent role in the company's future.
What improvements in terms of degrees of freedom and fine motor skills are expected in the Optimus robot later this year?
The Optimus robot, developed by Tesla, is expected to see improvements in its degrees of freedom and fine motor skills later this year4. According to recent statements, Optimus will have 22 degrees of freedom with its hands, an increase from its current level of just 11 degrees of freedom4. This update is anticipated to enhance the robot's proficiency in fine motor skills, effectively aligning its capabilities with those of humans. These improvements will likely enable the Optimus robot to perform more complex tasks autonomously and with greater precision.