Tesla’s Optimus dance video highlights rapid growth
Elon Musk has recently showcased Tesla’s remarkable progress with Optimus, the humanoid robot, in a captivating dance video. This demonstration highlights the agility and precise control that Tesla has achieved in developing the Optimus bot.
Back in 2021, Tesla made waves in the AI industry by announcing its ambitious plan to create a humanoid robot. At that time, the company was only in the conceptual phase with no tangible prototype to showcase. To commemorate this groundbreaking announcement, a human dressed as a humanoid robot enthralled the audience with a dance performance. Fast forward to the present day, and Tesla’s Optimus bot has come a long way, now revealing its dance capabilities that are a testament to the company’s remarkable progress.
The public got its first glimpse of Optimus in 2022 when Tesla unveiled semi-functional prototypes during AI Day. At the event, one Tesla Optimus bot showcased basic movements, including walking, while another demonstrated various arm maneuvers. Despite the impressive display, critics pointed out the robot’s reliance on teleoperation for certain tasks, raising concerns about its autonomy.
By 2023, Tesla introduced Optimus Gen 2, showcasing advancements such as sorting colored blocks, holding yoga poses, and yes, dancing. Notably, the robot’s hands saw significant enhancement, now boasting 11 degrees of freedom. In production models, Tesla Optimus hands offer an unprecedented 22 degrees of freedom, allowing for intricate tasks like block sorting or delicate maneuvers such as poaching an egg.
Last year, Tesla Optimus robots made a splash at the company’s “We, Robot” event, where they engaged in serving drinks and interacting with attendees. Teslarati even engaged in a game of rock, paper, scissors with one of the bots. These Tesla robots wowed the crowd with synchronized dance moves that showcased fluid movements across their arms and torsos.
Tesla’s relentless pursuit in refining Optimus has culminated in the latest development – an updated dance video that underscores the robot’s enhanced flexibility and control over its movements. This video signals the commencement of the next phase in Optimus’ journey: production.
In its Q1 2025 update, Tesla disclosed that limited production of Optimus has already commenced at the Fremont Factory. Elon Musk revealed plans to manufacture over 1,000 units of Tesla Optimus for internal use this year, with plans for external sales by 2026. Musk boldly asserts that Tesla Optimus could potentially surpass the company’s vehicle business in significance, with an estimated market value of $25 trillion. By automating mundane, repetitive tasks, Musk envisions a future where the Tesla bot could trigger an economic transformation – ushering in an era of abundance, characterized by more affordable goods and services.
In conclusion, Tesla’s Optimus dance video represents a culmination of years of relentless innovation and dedication to pushing the boundaries of possibility in robotics. With the promise of a transformative impact on the economy and society, Tesla’s foray into humanoid robots with Optimus heralds a new chapter in the company’s storied history of disrupting industries and shaping the future of technology.