A New Era for Tesla: Optimus Humanoid Robots on the Horizon
During the Tesla Q1 2025 All-Hands meeting, CEO Elon Musk made a groundbreaking announcement that the company is gearing up to produce its first “legion” of humanoid robots later this year.
Elon Musk recently shared a video showcasing the progress made on the humanoid robot project. The video highlights the latest version of the robot, named Optimus, walking with a newfound sense of confidence and human-like movement.
A Better Walk for Optimus
Elon Musk posted the Optimus update video on the social media platform X, captioned with the words, “Accurate actuators accelerate automation.” The video demonstrates Optimus walking with straight knees, a smoother heel-to-toe gait, and natural arm movements, showcasing a significant improvement over previous iterations.
Tesla Vice President of Optimus, Milan Kovac, further elaborated on the video, stating that the humanoid robot was entirely trained in simulation using reinforcement learning (RL) techniques, emphasizing the progress made in refining Optimus’s movements.
Optimus’ Quick Progress and Production Plans
Optimus was first introduced during Tesla’s AI Day in 2021 as a static model with a human operator. Since then, the humanoid robot has undergone multiple iterations, with significant improvements in various components. The robot’s hands are expected to have 22 degrees of freedom, enhancing its dexterity and capabilities.
Elon Musk revealed during the Q1 2025 All-Hands meeting that Tesla has already produced its first humanoid robot from the Optimus production line at the Fremont Factory. The company aims to ramp up production quickly, with plans to manufacture 5,000 Optimus robots this year, potentially scaling up to 10,000 to 12,000 units. Musk likened the production target to the size of a Roman legion, highlighting the ambitious goals set for the humanoid robot project.
With Optimus humanoid robots on the horizon, Tesla is pushing the boundaries of automation and robotics, bringing us closer to a future where humanoid robots coexist with humans in various industries and applications.