# Factbox-The challenges automakers, and now Tesla, face with humanoid robots Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-09-26 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Tesla to Unveil Humanoid Robot Prototype on Sept. 30 Meta Description: Elon Musk aims to expand Tesla's reach with humanoid robots initially for manufacturing and logistics before potential household use. URL: https://financedigest.com/factbox-the-challenges-automakers-and-now-tesla-face-with-humanoid-robots-2html ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-09-20t104018z2lynxmpei8j0h5rtroptp4tesla-robots-1-1736815152198-compressed.jpg) By Hyunjoo Jin SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk is set to unveil its prototype humanoid robots at an event on Sept. 30, hoping to expand beyond self-driving cars that have not yet become reality despite his repeated promises. While robots are widely used for specialist tasks at factories, other [companies have struggled](https://www.financedigest.com/almost-half-of-companies-struggle-to-find-skilled-workers.html "Almost half of companies struggle to find skilled workers") to create commercially viable human-like robots, despite decades-long development efforts. This market is very, very [challenging market because you buy this big](https://www.financedigest.com/big-banks-can-be-challengers-too.html "Big banks can be challengers too") expensive robot, but it actually cannot do much,” Heni Ben Amor, a robotics professor at Arizona State University, said. TESLA Tesla’s humanoid robots, Optimus, will be initially used in manufacturing and logistics for boring and repetitive work, thus [addressing a labor shortage](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-danone-ramps-up-u-s-baby-formula-shipments-to-address-shortage.html "Exclusive-Danone ramps up U.S. baby formula shipments to address shortage"). For the longer term, [Musk said the robot](https://www.financedigest.com/elon-musk-faces-skeptics-as-tesla-gets-ready-to-unveil-optimus-robot.html "Elon Musk faces skeptics as Tesla gets ready to unveil ‘Optimus’ robot") could be used in homes, even becoming a “buddy” or a “catgirl” sex partner. HONDA Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co’s Asimo bipedal robot had served as a [face for the company](https://www.financedigest.com/disconnected-customers-are-one-of-the-biggest-problems-facing-financial-companies.html "Disconnected customers are one of the biggest problems facing financial companies") but was not commercialized after more than two decades of development. Honda is now focusing on disaster relief [robots and “Avatar” robots for tasks like remote surgery](https://www.financedigest.com/digitization-to-offer-stewardship-to-the-robotic-surgery-market.html "Digitization to offer stewardship to the Robotic Surgery Market"). Honda aims to demonstrate the Avatar robot before early 2024 and deploy the machines in the 2030s. GM-NASA From 2007 to 2012, General Motors and NASA joined hands to develop [humanoid robots](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-the-challenges-automakers-and-now-tesla-face-with-humanoid-robots.html "Factbox-The challenges automakers, and now Tesla, face with humanoid robots"), R2, for assembly and space exploration. NASA said that they are not under development anymore. NASA said its current focus is the [development of next-generation](https://www.financedigest.com/fime-selected-by-mada-payment-system-to-develop-next-gen-testing-and-validation-scheme.html "FIME selected by mada payment system to develop next-gen testing and validation scheme") humanoid robots that can be used on the lunar surface and eventually on Mars. HYUNDAI MOTOR-BOSTON DYNAMICS Boston Dynamics [created internet buzz with videos](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-create-the-perfect-video-conferencing-space.html "How to create the perfect Video Conferencing space") of its humanoid robots running, jumping, backflipping and dancing. But the loss-making U.S. [company changed hands several times](https://www.financedigest.com/oxford-bus-company-outsources-for-the-first-time.html "Oxford Bus Company Outsources for the First Time"), with Alphabet Inc’s Google, SoftBank and then Hyundai Motor Co becoming the company’s owner. Hyundai and Boston Dynamics said in August that they will initially [invest more than $400 million](https://www.financedigest.com/sse-to-invest-122-million-in-scottish-pumped-hydro-project.html "SSE to invest 2 million in Scottish pumped hydro project") in a “research-first organization” on AI and robotics. FORD-AGILITY ROBOTICS In 2020, Ford bought two humanoid robots, Digit, from Agility Robotics, to test the delivery of a package to doorstop from a delivery vehicle. Oregon-based startup Agility Robotics is also working to deploy human-like [robots that can pick up and move](https://www.financedigest.com/the-aquaculture-feed-and-pharmaceutical-market-to-move-ahead-on-rpa-robotic-process-automation.html "The Aquaculture Feed And Pharmaceutical Market to move ahead on RPA (Robotic Process Automation)") items at warehouses. SOFTBANK, OTHERS SoftBank’s wide-eyed Pepper robot, which helped burnish Chief Executive Masayoshi Son’s image as a forward-looking [tech entrepreneur](https://www.financedigest.com/entrepreneurs-can-prepare-sell-tech-business.html "How entrepreneurs can prepare to sell a tech business  "), saw production halted. Several robot [startups like Rethink Robotics also went out of business](https://www.financedigest.com/motion-paradox-business-advice-for-startups.html "Motion Paradox – Business advice for startups"), as they failed to commercialize their products. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Addidtional reporting by Sam Nussey in Tokyo; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---