Tesla, known for its electric vehicles (EVs), will close on January 21, 2026.Mass production of the humanoid robot "Optimus Gen 3" beginsCEO Elon Musk has announced that the company aims to produce one million units per year at its Fremont, California, factory alone. The future in which human-like robots actually work in factories and logistics facilities is moving beyond the research stage and becoming a reality.
Tesla: Expanding business areas from EVs to robots
Tesla is an American technology company that focuses on electric vehicles (EVs) and clean energy equipment. In addition to EVs such as the Model 3 and Model Y, the company also produces home batteries and solar panels. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and was founded in 2003.
Tesla's features include:Focusing on software as well as hardwareThis is a key point. By developing wireless software updates (OTA) and autonomous driving functions, the car has evolved into a "computer that runs on wheels." This accumulation of AI and software has also been utilized in the development of the humanoid robot Optimus.
What is Optimus Gen 3? A human-sized, general-purpose robot
Optimus Gen 3 is suitable for factories and otherA general-purpose humanoid robot designed to take on dangerous, monotonous, and heavy work in place of humansIt is designed to be approximately 170cm tall and weigh 57kg, allowing it to move around in roughly the same workspace as a human. It can carry a maximum of approximately 20kg of luggage.
The battery capacity is 2.3 kWh, allowing for 10 to 12 hours of continuous operation per charge, equivalent to one factory shift. Each hand has 22 degrees of freedom (the number of joints moving), allowing for fine control of the fingers and wrists, making it suitable for tasks involving the use of tools and handling small parts.
Technology used: Application of AI for autonomous driving
Optimus Gen 3 is equipped with 28 actuators (joint motors) and numerous sensors throughout its body. In addition to eight cameras, it also has force sensors on the soles of its feet and tactile sensors on its fingertips, enabling it to walk and balance more like a human.
The brain of the car is an AI computer of the same type as Tesla's FSD (Full Self-Driving) autonomous driving system. It uses camera images to recognize its surroundings in three dimensions, and plans its own route and work procedures.
This AI uses a computational mechanism called a neural network. A neural network is a method of learning how to distinguish between objects and how to move correctly from a large number of images and example movements. A distinctive feature of this network is that it allows the robot to make decisions based on experience, without the need for a human to teach it each and every movement.
The main stage is factories and logistics
The Optimus Gen 3 is primarily intended for use in factories and logistics facilities. It is intended for tasks that involve repeating the same actions over long periods of time, such as transporting parts, supplying them to production lines, inspections, and cleaning. One advantage is that it can be introduced without major renovations, as it can use the aisles, shelves, and tools that are already designed for humans.
Tesla plans to have thousands of Optimus vehicles operational by the end of 2026 at its own Gigafactories and at the facilities of its early industrial partners.
Prices and rival companies: Mass production competition continues worldwide
Elon Musk has set a target price of 20,000 to 30,000 US dollars (approximately 316 million to 474 million yen, calculated at 1 dollar = 158 yen) per unit when the Optimus is mass-produced.Lower standard than conventional humanoid robots.
The humanoid robot market is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 30-40% between 2025 and 2030. In the United States, in addition to Tesla, companies such as Boston Dynamics' Atlas and Figure AI's Figure series are also developing robots.
Meanwhile, mass production and lower prices have progressed in China, and it is reported that by 2025, approximately 13,000 humanoid robots will be introduced, accounting for more than 80% of the world's total.
Trends in each country and region
- America
Representative companies and robot names: Tesla "Optimus", Figure AI "Figure 01/02", Agility Robotics "Digit", Apptronik "Apollo", Boston Dynamics "Atlas", etc.
Characteristics: Focusing on practical robots for factories and logistics, the company's strength lies in its design that integrates "surrounding recognition" and "specific tasks" using AI and sensor technology. - Chugoku
Representative companies and robot names: Agibot, Unitree, UBTECH "Walker", Leju, etc.
Characteristics: Mass production and low prices have made it a big presence, and it is reported that the number of humanoid robots shipped by 2025 will be at the top level in the world. - Japan and Korea
Representative companies and robot names: Toyota, Honda, Kawada Robotics, SoftBank Robotics' "Pepper/NAO", Korea's Hyulim Robot, etc.
Characteristics: Has extensive experience in the service robot field, including nursing care, customer service, and education, and excels in interaction technology for designing conversations and behavior with people. - Europe
Representative company/robot name: PAL Robotics (Spain), joint development projects with automobile manufacturers, etc.
Characteristics: Many robots are being introduced with an emphasis on safety and collaboration with existing industrial robots, and they are increasingly being applied to highly specialized fields such as medicine and rehabilitation.
My Feelings, Then and Now
- Tesla will begin mass production of its Optimus Gen 3 humanoid robot in 2026
- Optimus is about 170cm tall and is designed to work in the same factory space as people for 10 to 12 hours.
- AI technology developed for autonomous driving is being used as the brain of humanoid robots
- The humanoid robot market is growing rapidly, with China and the US at the forefront
The practical application of humanoid robots has the potential not only to make up for labor shortages but also to change the way we work. However, issues remain, such as ensuring safety and determining how work roles should be divided.
In a society where robots are a familiar presence, what kind of work will people do, and how will they cooperate with robots? The humanoid robot Optimus can be said to be an opportunity to think about these questions.
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