Humanoid Robot Development Accelerates Despite Hurdles,Market Poised for Explosive Growth
Geneva โ- The humanoid robot sector is experiencing rapid development,despite ongoing technical challenges,with major playersโ like tesla and โGoogle pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and robotics. The market, currently valued atโ around $3.3 billion in โ2024, is projected to reach $38 billion by 2035, according to Goldman Sachs.
Tesla’s Optimus robot has faced โขsetbacks, including project slowdowns and a temporaryโ pause for technical overhauls following a change โคin project leadership. The company has also encountered issues โwithโ engine overheating, insufficient hand load capacity, and component lifespan. Nevertheless,โ Tesla aims to produce around 5,000 Optimus robotsโ by 2025, pricedโข between $20,000 and $30,000 per unit. Elon Musk maintains that 80% of Tesla’s future โคvalue will stem from Optimus.
Google,through its DeepMind โdivision,isโ taking a more “scientific” approach. In September, the company showcased advancements in Gemini Robotics 1.5,AI models enabling robotsโ to perform tasks like sorting laundry – distinguishing โฃbetween light and dark clothing. These robots can โฃalso leverage internet data, such as waste sorting guidelines for specific cities, to correctly categorize garbage, compost, and recyclables.
Despite progress,โฃ meaningfulโข hurdles remain. Battery life is a key limitation, with most robots requiring lengthy โrecharges after only a few hours of operation. Dexterity of robotic hands alsoโค lags behind humanโค capabilities.
Initialโค applications are expected to focus on industrial settings. BMW is currently โtesting robots for automotive assembly in South Carolina, and amazon initiated explorations inโ 2023 for parcel handling. The domestic โmarket for humanoid robots is anticipated to beโ slower to develop, with โmorgan Stanley Bank estimating it will represent only about 10% of the total humanoid robot โmarket by 2050.
