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I think industrial robotics is a well established and profitable field.

weego 5y ago
Industrial robotics focuses on single task, highly specialised machines that have few constraints on form, size etc. This is not that. What tesla are conceptually pitching here (let's ignore that they'll deliver something that's pretty useless by comparison to what they're hoping you're assuming they mean) is a not-in-our-lifetimes leap in robotics in multiple ways
squarefoot 5y ago
True, but humanoid robots have little to do with industrial applications. I'm not bashing Tesla or Musk in any way, but this seems more of a mix of PR and research. Robotics is indeed the future, there will be huge demand in a few years, and of course they want to keep a foot in that door, so they need a project which today allows them to say "we're doing robotics too", tomorrow could evolve in big "ooohhh!" and in the meantime let them build experience in the field. In due time all money spent in this field is going to return. In my opinion this robot will probably evolve either into a companion aid for lonely/ill people or maybe a future Tesla luxury car chaffeur, rather than doing any serious mechanical work. For most uses, today a wheeled/tracked platform with grabbers is still cheaper, stronger, better. The knowledge accumulated during the journey to get there however will represent the most valuable asset.
fragmede 5y ago
that Tesla is in the process of building up expertise in. The Fremont, Nevada, China, and German Tesla factories are all filled to the brim with industrial robots.
_trampeltier 5y ago
That 100% something else. Industrial robots are almost allways in a cage for safety. I know there are 'cobots' now, but I just never saw one, except in showcases. Industrial robots just do a fixed task and are dumber than a slice bread. Industrial robots are super heavy for what they can lift. Even they are very efficient with energy, they are still allways on main grid / no batteries. The huge task is anyway not to build a robot. The huge part is to make the robot (or any device) smarter than a slice bread.

Industrial robotics focuses on single task, highly specialised machines that have few constraints on form, size etc. This is not that. What tesla are conceptually pitching here (let's ignore that they'll deliver something that's pretty useless by comparison to what they're hoping you're assuming they mean) is a not-in-our-lifetimes leap in robotics in multiple ways

squarefoot 5y ago

True, but humanoid robots have little to do with industrial applications. I'm not bashing Tesla or Musk in any way, but this seems more of a mix of PR and research. Robotics is indeed the future, there will be huge demand in a few years, and of course they want to keep a foot in that door, so they need a project which today allows them to say "we're doing robotics too", tomorrow could evolve in big "ooohhh!" and in the meantime let them build experience in the field. In due time all money spent in this field is going to return. In my opinion this robot will probably evolve either into a companion aid for lonely/ill people or maybe a future Tesla luxury car chaffeur, rather than doing any serious mechanical work. For most uses, today a wheeled/tracked platform with grabbers is still cheaper, stronger, better. The knowledge accumulated during the journey to get there however will represent the most valuable asset.

fragmede 5y ago

that Tesla is in the process of building up expertise in. The Fremont, Nevada, China, and German Tesla factories are all filled to the brim with industrial robots.

_trampeltier 5y ago

That 100% something else. Industrial robots are almost allways in a cage for safety. I know there are 'cobots' now, but I just never saw one, except in showcases. Industrial robots just do a fixed task and are dumber than a slice bread. Industrial robots are super heavy for what they can lift. Even they are very efficient with energy, they are still allways on main grid / no batteries. The huge task is anyway not to build a robot. The huge part is to make the robot (or any device) smarter than a slice bread.