Tesla Is Paying People $48/Hour To Walk Around (With a Catch)

What a fascinating time to be alive! It's hard to keep up with everything in tech, so I've tried to focus only on humanoid robotics.

But even when you're focused on one sector, it feels like everything overlaps. And as technology advances, new industries and jobs are popping up.

Our first story for this week is a perfect example of a new role created by Tesla to help train Optimus.

Let's dive in...

Tesla Offers $48/Hour for Humanoid Robot Training, But the Work Is Intense

Tesla is hiring Data Collection Operators in Palo Alto, California, to train its humanoid robot, Optimus. The job pays up to $48 per hour but you must wear a motion capture suits, walk over seven hours daily, and carry up to 30 pounds. Applicants must meet specific physical criteria to match Optimus’ size.

Think you could do that?

The company offers three shifts, including an overnight option, indicating a push for rapid data collection. This effort reflects Tesla's ambition to close the gap with competitors in the robotics field.

Source: Tesla

Unitree’s $16k Humanoid Robot Is Ready For Mass Production

Unitree's new G1 humanoid robot, standing over 4 feet tall and weighing 77 pounds, is set for mass production at $16,000. The G1 boasts enhanced performance, including jumping, walking at over 4.4 mph, and climbing debris-covered stairs. 

While it may not handle household tasks immediately, the G1 is designed for research and could be one of the first affordable and capable humanoid robots available for home use.

Source: Unitree

LimX Dynamics Demos Upgraded CL-1 Humanoid Robot

LimX Dynamics has enhanced the physical and functional capabilities of its CL-1 humanoid robot, focusing on warehouse tasks. In a recent demonstration, the CL-1 was shown lifting and moving heavy objects in a mock warehouse setting, using real-time perception and full-body coordinated motion. 

While it lacks a human-like hand, the robot employs simple paddle end effectors to grip and handle totes or boxes. The video also highlights the CL-1’s ability to adapt to real-time interruptions by reevaluating and replanning its actions.

This development aligns with broader industry trends as companies like Agility Robotics and Tesla advance humanoid robots for warehousing and manufacturing.

Source: LimX YouTube

Agibot Unveils Humanoid Robots to Compete with Tesla's Optimus

Shanghai-based startup Agibot has introduced its first set of humanoid robots. This includes its flagship Yuanzheng A2, a bipedal robot standing 175 cm tall and weighing 121 pounds.

Revealed on August 18, the Yuanzheng A2 is equipped with advanced AI to perform intricate tasks like threading a needle.

Agibot, founded by former Huawei ‘Genius Youth’ recruit Peng Zhihui, launched five new robot models for domestic and industrial applications.

Zhihui emphasized that the company has made significant advancements in product development, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Tesla’s Optimus robot. He noted that Agibot's focus on commercialization and cost control could give it an edge over Tesla in the emerging humanoid robot market.

Source: Interesting Engineering