Elon Musk wrangles with the robot hand
Elon Musk has identified the development of a dexterous, human-like hand for the Tesla Optimus robot as a significant engineering hurdle. He noted that fine motor skills, such as using a screwdriver, remain difficult to replicate in robotics.
Why it matters
Advancements in robotic dexterity are critical for the transition of humanoid robots from controlled environments to practical, real-world labor applications.
Elon Musk said Tesla is working to design a reliable human hand for its Optimus robot. Christoph Soeder/picture alliance via Getty Images The human hand is a difficult engineering challenge for the robotics industry to solve. Elon Musk said getting the motor skills right for the humanoid hand is "shockingly difficult." He said he has yet to see a robot hand that can screw in a self-tapping screw. We have boxing robots, but can they screw in a nail? Designing a useful human hand for humanoids is recognized as one of the more difficult engineering challenges within the robotics industry . Elon Musk , the man who wants to put data centers in space and colonize Mars, can also admit that. "The hands and arms and the fine motor skills are incredibly difficult to get right," Musk said in a virtual interview with Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley.
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