Tesla revealed some of its humanoid robot technology by filing for several new patents related to the Optimus robot program.
A few months ago, Tesla introduced “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 many improvements over previous unimpressive versions of the robot and gave some credibility to the project.
One of the major changes with Optimus Gen 2 is the fact that Tesla is now using all of its own custom actuators to power the robot’s limbs.
Tesla has now filed several patents related to the technology behind its humanoid robot.
In the first patent, Tesla describes his “drivetrain and actuator design methodology”:
A system or methodology for controlling the movement of a robot (600) using actuators, the system may include one or more first type actuators (1002) positioned at torso, arm and hip locations of the robot; one or more second type actuators (1004) positioned at the wrist locations of the robot; one or more third type actuators (1006) positioned at the wrist locations of the robot; one or more actuators of the fourth type (1008) positioned at the elbow and ankle locations of the robot; one or more fifth type actuators (1010) positioned at the torso location and thigh locations of the robot; and one or more actuators of the sixth type (1012) positioned at the knee locations and hip locations of the robot.
Here are some of the drawings from the patent application:
Interestingly, the first generation Optimus is featured in these drawings for the first patent application.
The other patent applications contain images of the new Optimus.
The next patent is called “Systems and Methods for Assembling a Robot Knee Joint,” and as the name suggests, it’s specifically about the bot’s knee.
Tesla describes the technology in its patent application:
Disclosed herein is a knee joint assembly including a first connecting member having a first end mechanically connected to the upper leg of a robot and configured to rotate about a first hinge relative to the upper leg, and a second connecting member having a first end mechanically connected to the lower leg of the robot. The lower leg may be mechanically connected to the upper leg and configured to rotate about a second hinge relative to the upper leg. A linear actuator may be mechanically connected to a second end of the first coupling member and a second end of the second coupling member and when actuated may cause the first coupling member to rotate about the first hinge relative to the upper leg of the robot and cause the leg to rotate around the second hinge to the upper leg.
Here are some of the drawings from the patent application:
The latest patent application we found is particularly interesting as it specifically relates to the Tesla Optimus arms.
The patent application is called “Underactuated hand with cable-actuated fingers.”
Tesla wrote in the patent application:
A robotic hand system may include a palm region and one or more fingers, each finger comprising an actuator; a proximal member having a first end mechanically connected to the palm region robot and configured to rotate about a first hinge with respect to the palm region; a distal member having a first end mechanically connected to a second end of the proximal member and configured to rotate about a second hinge relative to the proximal member; and a cable having a first portion connected to the actuator and a second portion extending along the proximal member and the distal member, the second portion being separated from the first hinge and the second hinge and having an end larger in size than the diameter of the cable, the end of a larger size structured to grip the distal member when the cable is pulled from the actuator.
Here are some of the drawings from the patent application:
In the latest sneak peek at the latest robot prototypes that Tesla showed off, we could see much improved hand dexterity.
There’s no clear timeline for Tesla to put the robot into production, but Tesla 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 a robot would cost about half as much as a car.
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