Tesla is on the lookout for some unique "action actors," but these roles aren't for film; instead, they involve donning motion capture suits to train Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus. These positions are titled "Data Collection Operators," who will teach Optimus how to walk and work like a human through their own movements.
This job is not only fun but also well-paid, with an hourly rate of up to $48. However, it's no walk in the park, requiring employees to walk for over seven hours a day, carry equipment weighing up to 30 pounds, and wear VR headsets for extended periods.
Tesla also has height requirements for its employees, ranging from 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 11 inches, similar to Optimus's anticipated height, to ensure precise motion replication.
Although Tesla plans to teach Optimus human-like actions through extensive motion capture, experts note that fully preparing Optimus for work in Tesla factories could require millions of hours of data, with an estimated cost of up to $500 million, and success is not guaranteed.
Currently, despite Elon Musk's promise to begin production of "truly useful" robots next year, Optimus doesn't seem to be any closer to completion than products from Boston Dynamics and other competitors.
Tesla's official Optimus X account has showcased the responsibilities of this role, with Tesla having hired over 50 employees for this position in the past year. Motion capture is a common and often cost-effective method for training robots to perform human-like actions, but Tesla is one of the first to apply this technology on a large scale. With the continuous advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics, we look forward to seeing Optimus demonstrate even more impressive capabilities in the future.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/19/24223626/tesla-optimus-humanoid-robot-motion-capture-training
