Tesla Hits Pause on Optimus Robot Production for Complete Redesign
Tesla has temporarily halted production of its Optimus humanoid robot to undertake a comprehensive redesign, according to Chinese publication LatePost Auto. The retooling process could last up to two months, potentially jeopardising Elon Musk’s ambitious goal of mass production in 2024.
Adding to the project’s challenges, Milan Kovac, who initially headed the Optimus initiative, has reportedly departed the company. Tesla’s VP of AI Software, Ashok Elluswamy, has now taken charge, focusing on resolving critical issues before scaling up production.
The current Optimus prototype is struggling with several fundamental problems: overheating joints, insufficient grip strength, limited operational lifespan, and poor battery efficiency. In Tesla’s workshops, where the robots are tasked with moving batteries, they’re performing at less than 50% of human efficiency.
Despite these setbacks, Tesla continues refining the robot’s design, hoping that future iterations will overcome these limitations and deliver on the promise of versatile humanoid assistance. Whether the third-generation Optimus will prove to be more than a high-tech novelty remains to be seen.
