Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (2024)

Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (1)

Tesla has revealed some of its humanoid robot technology through filings for several new patents related to its Optimus robot program.

A few months ago,Tesla unveiled “Optimus Gen 2”, a new generation of its humanoid robot that should be able to take over repetitive tasks from humans.

The new prototype showed a lot of improvements compared to previously underwhelming versions of the robot, and it gave some credibility to the project.

One of the main changes with the Optimus Gen 2 is the fact that Tesla is now using all its own inhouse-designed custom actuators to power the robot’s limbs.

Now, Tesla has filed several patents related to the technology behind its humanoird robot.

In the first patent, Tesla describes its ‘actuator and actuator design methodology’:

A system or methodology of controlling movement of a robot (600) using actuators, the system can include one or more first type of actuators (1002) positioned at torso, shoulder, and hip locations of the robot; one or more second type of actuators (1004) positioned at wrist locations of the robot; one or more third type of actuators (1006) positioned at the wrist locations of the robot; one or more fourth type of actuators (1008) positioned at elbow and ankle locations of the robot; one or more fifth type of actuators (1010) positioned at the torso location and the hip locations of the robot; and one or more sixth type of actuators (1012) positioned at knee locations and the hip locations of the robot.

Here are some of the drawings from the patent application:

Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (2)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (3)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (4)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (5)

Interestingly, the first gen Optimus is featured in those drawings for the first patent application.

The other patent applications feature images of the new Optimus.

The next patent is called ‘Sytems and methods for a robot knee joint assembly’ and as the name suggest, it is specifically about the bot’s knee.

Tesla described the technology in its patent application:

Disclosed herein is a knee joint assembly including a first link member having a first end mechanically coupled to an upper leg of a robot and configured to rotate around a first pivot relative to the upper leg, and a second link member having a first end mechanically coupled to a lower leg of the robot. The lower leg can be mechanically coupled to the upper leg and configured to rotate around a second pivot relative to the upper leg. A linear actuator device can be mechanically coupled to a second end of the first link member and a second end of the second link member, and when actuated can cause the first link member to rotate around the first pivot relative to the upper leg of the robot and cause the leg to rotate around the second pivot relative to the upper leg.

Here are some of the drawings from the patent application:

Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (8)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (9)
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Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (11)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (12)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (13)

The last patent application that we found is particularly interesting as it relates specifically to the Tesla Optimus hands.

The patent application is called ‘Underactuated hand with cable-driven fingers’.

Tesla wrote in the patent application:

A robotic hand system can comprise a palm region and one or more fingers, each finger comprising an actuator device; a proximal member having a first end mechanically coupled to the palm region robot and configured to rotate around a first pivot relative to the palm region; a distal member having a first end mechanically coupled to a second end of the proximal member and configured to rotate around a second pivot relative to the proximal member; and a cable having a first portion coupled to the actuator and a second portion extending along the proximal member and the distal member, the second portion separated away from the first pivot and the second pivot and having an end with a higher dimension than a diameter of the cable, the end with higher dimension structured to engage the distal member when the cable is pulled by the actuator.

Liked by 17 people

The fact that people talk about this thing like it's an actual product is wild. Tesla isn't even part of any serious conversation concerning robotics.

Maybe it has something to do with the man in spandex, or the video that accidentally caught the human controlling the "robot," and I'm sure Elon's aversion to the truth plays a role, but Optimus is nothing more than an expensive stock manipulation tool until proven otherwise.

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Here are some of the drawings from the patent application:

Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (14)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (15)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (16)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (17)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (18)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (19)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (20)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (21)
Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (22)

In the latest sneak peek at the latest robot prototypes that Tesla showed, we could see much improved hand dexterity.

Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (23)

There’s no clear timeline for Tesla to bring the robot to production, butTesla CEO Elon Musk said in 2022 that it could go into production as soon as 2023– though that didn’t happen.

Musk recently said that the robot would cost about half of a car.

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Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents (2024)

FAQs

Tesla reveals humanoid robot technology through new patents? ›

Tesla has revealed some of its humanoid robot technology through filings for several new patents related to its Optimus robot

Optimus robot
Optimus, also known as Tesla Bot, is a general-purpose robotic humanoid under development by Tesla, Inc. It was announced at the company's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Day event on August 19, 2021, and a prototype was shown in 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Optimus_(robot)
program. A few months ago, Tesla unveiled “Optimus Gen 2”, a new generation of its humanoid robot that should be able to take over repetitive tasks from humans.

Is Tesla releasing a robot? ›

Optimus, Tesla's still-in-development humanoid robot, will be able to perform useful tasks in the factory by the end of the year and could reach the market by the end of 2025, Musk told investors after a disappointing earnings report on Tuesday.

What humanoid robot is made by Tesla? ›

Tesla's CEO Elon Musk has sparked fresh interest in the company's humanoid robot, Optimus. According to Musk, the robot could be commercially available by the end of 2025. This news comes as several companies are vying for a lead in the humanoid robot market.

How much will the Tesla humanoid robot cost? ›

Musk went into more detail in another response, confirming that the price of the Optimus would be between $25,000 and $30,000. «It will be lower over time,» Musk said. The figure is in line with statements by Elon Musk, who said the humanoid robot is designed to be a mass-market product.

Does Tesla have any patents? ›

Tesla's Patents

The first was US patent no. 334,823 for a commutator for dynamo electric machines and the last US patent no. 1,655,114 for an apparatus for aerial transport. Tesla held a total of 112 registered US patents, while the total of Tesla's patents in other countries has not yet been definitively determined.

What is the Tesla robot going to do? ›

In 2021, Elon Musk announced a Tesla humanoid robot named Optimus. It is designed to help reduce the labor shortage, according to Musk, and keep workers safer. This could very well be groundbreaking, however, it still has a long way to go before it is ready for production and available for purchase.

What can the Tesla robot do? ›

The humanoid robots have artificial intelligence that allows them to interact with the world around them, completely autonomously. In one example, Optimus sorts blocks by color, gently picking each one up and placing them in a corresponding bin, even pausing to fix one that tipped over.

What is Elon Musk's robot? ›

Optimus (robot)
ManufacturerTesla, Inc.
Year of creation2022
TypeHumanoid
PurposeGeneral-purpose
1 more row

What is Tesla AI called? ›

Tesla's self-driving vehicles will be based on its AI-based self-driving technology called FSD V12. Musk said it has turned on the feature in about 1.8 million of its vehicles on the road, and about half of their drivers are using it.

What is the most expensive robots in the world? ›

The three most expensive specialised robots

The three most expensive specialised field robots in the 2023/2024 catalogue are: Andela Robot Weeder ARW-912: €800,000 ($842,960) Nexus Robotics La Chèvre: €472,372 ($500,000) GUSS's spraying robots: €291,818 ($307,500) for each of their three models.

How big is the Tesla robot? ›

Ultimately, Tesla believes Optimus will do nearly anything a human can do. It will have approximately the same size and weight as a person, at 125 pounds and five feet, eight inches in height. The robot should be able to operate for several hours without recharging.

When can I buy a Tesla robot? ›

In Short. Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot could be available for purchase by 2025. Elon Musk informed the same to investors on a conference call. The robot is currently undergoing development in the lab.

Are Tesla patents really free? ›

Tesla has effectively chosen to make all of their patents “open source” by stating anyone is free to use their patents and they will not take legal action to enforce their patent rights.

How many patents did Tesla have when he died? ›

Tesla held 112 U.S. patents and at least 308 worldwide patents when he died. Crucial to the modern electrical system was what we call the three-phase system of electric power transmission: Electricity generation. Transmission.

Does Elon Musk own Tesla patents? ›

Firstly, Elon Musk doesn't own any of the patents that have been filed by Tesla. Those patents are owned by Tesla. Musk is currently a shareholder in Tesla, and CEO. He is not the company, and it's not “his” technology.

Is Tesla doing AI? ›

Tesla's artificial intelligence infrastructure capex was $1 billion in the first quarter, the company said in its latest earnings report. In a call during which the electric vehicle company reported falling profits and negative cash flow, Tesla pointed to its AI investment as an opportunity for future growth.

Is Tesla making AI? ›

Tesla, the AI robotics company

Tesla's self-driving vehicles will be based on its AI-based self-driving technology called FSD V12. Musk said it has turned on the feature in about 1.8 million of its vehicles on the road, and about half of their drivers are using it.

What is the new robot Elon Musk? ›

Optimus, also known as Tesla Bot, is a visionary project currently in development. Unveiled at Tesla's AI Day in 2021, this humanoid robot is designed to be a versatile, general-purpose machine capable of handling tasks that are unsafe, repetitive, or tedious for humans.

Can the Tesla Bot cook? ›

Enter the Tesla Bot, your futuristic sous-chef. This versatile robot can assist with meal preparation, cook alongside you, and handle the cleanup afterward, leaving your kitchen sparkling and your culinary adventures stress-free.

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