Elon Musk recently showcased Tesla's Optimus robot successfully walking on uneven terrain, highlighting its advanced capabilities. The video, shared on X, illustrates Optimus navigating mulch-covered hills autonomously, using neural networks to control its movements rather than relying on human operation.
Musk emphasized that Optimus can now walk on variable ground, stating, "Optimus can now walk on highly variable ground using neural nets to control its electric limbs." Milan Kovac, Tesla's Vice President of Optimus Engineering, added that the robot was balancing without video input, relying solely on onboard sensors.
Kovac noted the challenging nature of the terrain, sharing his own experiences of slipping in similar conditions. He also mentioned ongoing developments for Optimus, including adding vision capabilities, improving its gait, enhancing responsiveness, and teaching it to minimize damage when falling.
Musk further confirmed that Optimus was operating 'blindfolded' during the demonstration, as vision has not yet been integrated for uneven terrain. Currently, Optimus is being utilized for simple tasks in Tesla factories, and Musk anticipates it will autonomously catch a tennis ball by next year, with mass production expected by 2026 and external deliveries starting before 2027.