Tesla’s ‘Bumblebee’ and FIGURE’s ‘Figure01’: The Emergence of Humanoid Robots with Advanced Capabilities

Humanoid robots are being developed by several companies for various purposes, including addressing potential labor shortages, performing dangerous or repetitive tasks, helping with household chores, and combating loneliness in the elderly. One notable example is Elon Musk’s “Optimus” robot created by Tesla. Despite Musk’s history of missing deadlines on ambitious promises to investors, Tesla has made progress in developing humanoid robots. The company introduced the first generation of its Optimus robot, “Bumblebee,” in September 2022 and recently showcased a video of the second generation folding a t-shirt at their facility. Other companies like FIGURE have also unveiled plans for advanced humanoid robots, with significant investments from tech giants like Intel, Jeff Bezos, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

FIGURE’s Figure01 robot is an example of the latest advancements in humanoid robots. The robot is equipped with shiny metallic armor and joints that provide flexibility and movement in various body parts. It can engage in conversations, understand subtitles, analyze images, and carry out tasks like handing an apple or emptying a trash can with a human-like intonation. Although these humanoid robots have limitations in terms of weight, speed, and capabilities at present, they show great potential for a wide range of applications in industries such as service, manufacturing