Now, Tesla is on the cutting edge of robotics with the creation of its Optimus systems. In other news, vice president Milan Kovac recently declared his intention to leave the company. In an interview with CNBC’s David Faber, Elon Musk admitted that Tesla is currently doing more than just developing its Optimus systems. Yet these systems need to get basic tasks right. This training is even more important given Tesla’s ambitions to deploy these robots to a much wider range of operations.
In reality, the Optimus systems are performing a basic level of learning to understand how to execute primitive tasks. They can grasp things, operate doorknobs, and play catch. These preliminary talents are meant to equip the bots for greater demanding situations inside Tesla’s factories and outdoors them.
Milan Kovac, who formerly ran Autopilot software engineering, moved to head the Optimus unit in 2022. During this critical transitional time, Musk lauded Kovac’s leadership. He thanked Kovac for his exceptional service to Tesla on X.com.
“builds of Optimus on our Fremont pilot production line in 2025, with wider deployment of bots doing useful work across our factories” – Tesla
Kovac’s departure marks a seismic change for the Optimus unit. As the team transitions to this new leg of its journey, the focus will remain on advancing and understanding robotic capabilities. Under his leadership, the unit and his department set the stage for significant breakthroughs in robotics and automation at Tesla.
Elon Musk’s remarks underscore the importance of the Optimus project within Tesla’s broader vision for automation in manufacturing. The corporation is on an exciting trajectory. It anticipates having Optimus builds ready for pilot production at its Fremont manufacturing complex by 2025. This timeline aligns with Musk’s ambitions for a wider deployment of robots capable of performing tasks that enhance productivity and efficiency in Tesla’s operations.