On Thanksgiving, Tesla's Optimus robot once again redefined people's imagination of robotic technology. In the latest demonstration video, this humanoid robot showcased astonishing hand manipulation abilities by effortlessly catching a thrown tennis ball.
This is not just a simple catching performance. Optimus's new hands and forearms integrate several revolutionary technologies. Its hands have 22 degrees of freedom, and the wrists and forearms add an additional 3 degrees of freedom, bringing its flexibility close to the 27 degrees of freedom found in the human hand. This means the robot is rapidly narrowing the gap with human physiological structures.
It is worth mentioning that this video was filmed through remote real-time operation, showcasing the robot's precise control capabilities. The team overcame numerous technical challenges during the design process: how to ensure the protection of fingers and palms while maintaining sufficient softness and tactile sensitivity.
The integration of tactile sensing is another major highlight. The new version has a tactile coverage that far exceeds previous designs, achieving very fine control through tendons while successfully reducing the weight of the forearm. These details reflect the engineers' relentless pursuit of excellence in robot design.
At the same time, another company under Musk, Neuralink, also made significant news. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the CONVOY feasibility trial study, which will explore the possibility of the brain-machine interface N1 implant working in tandem with assistive robotic arms.
As early as July of this year, Musk hinted that the limbs of Optimus might work in conjunction with Neuralink's N1 implant. Through the PRIME study, Neuralink has successfully enabled two patients to control electronic devices solely with their thoughts, opening up new possibilities for human-machine collaboration.
This series of advancements is not just a breakthrough in technology but also a vivid testament to the increasingly blurred boundaries between humans and machines. Who would have thought that one day, a robot could not only catch a ball accurately but also potentially become an extension of human physical capabilities? The future of technology is quietly arriving in ways we never expected.
