TSL Optimus Bots really know Kung Fu! Musk reveals V3 black technology.

Musk publicly released a shocking video of the Tesla Optimus Bots "learning martial arts" on the X platform, where the robot sparred with a martial arts coach, showcasing smooth movements from evasion, blocking to counterattacks, with extremely short reaction times. This is not an AI-generated scene, but a real capability demonstration of the Optimus V3 version. Musk emphasized that this generation is "very different," as Tesla has transplanted FSD visual perception technology to the Bots, achieving real-time judgment and dynamic adaptation, with an estimated price of 18,999 USD.

Optimus Bots kung fu video shocks the tech world

(Source: X)

Elon Musk, the CEO of TSL, posted a very captivating video on the X platform on October 4, which one might have thought was AI-generated. The content features Tesla Optimus Bots learning martial arts! Optimus is seen sparring with a martial arts coach, demonstrating evasion, blocking, and counterattacks, with smooth movements and extremely quick reaction times. The video, lasting only a few dozen seconds, is enough to stir the nerves of the global tech community and capital markets.

This video quickly sparked heated discussions on social media, with many tech industry players and investors leaving comments expressing their amazement. Unlike previous robot demonstration videos, Optimus's movements no longer appear stiff or delayed, but instead showcase a fluidity and real-time responsiveness close to that of humans.

Core Highlights of the Video:

Instant reaction ability: After the coach throws a punch, Optimus makes a defensive move in milliseconds.

Dynamic balance adjustment: Maintaining a stable posture during movement and blocking.

Complex action combinations: multitasking that combines visual judgment, step adjustments, and hand movements.

Visual tracking accuracy: Able to accurately identify the coach's body parts and movement trajectories.

Musk emphasized in the post that this is not a pre-arranged sequence of actions, but rather the result of Optimus making real-time judgments through its AI vision system and neural network. This marks a significant breakthrough for Tesla's humanoid Bots in terms of vision, control, and dynamic adaptability.

AI Vision System: Technology Transfer from FSD to Bots

The most striking aspect of the video is that Optimus no longer relies on prearrangement, but instead makes real-time judgments through a visual system and neural network. TSL replicated the image perception, environmental mapping, and decision-making algorithms used in full self-driving (FSD) for the Bots, and trained them with multi-angle video data.

Technical Architecture Analysis:

Imaging Perception Module: Computer vision technology identical to TSL vehicles

Environmental mapping capability: Real-time construction of 3D spatial models and obstacle locations.

Decision Algorithm: Action Selection System Based on Deep Learning

Multimodal training: combining video, sensors, and force feedback data

Optimus is therefore able to "understand" the coach's punches and footwork, combining movements and making appropriate responses. This technical approach is completely different from the hydraulic drive system of its competitor Boston Dynamics, as TSL chooses to leverage software and AI advantages to compensate for the hardware flexibility gap.

Commonality with FSD Technology:

This technology replication strategy enables TSL to rapidly enhance the intelligence level of Optimus without having to develop visual algorithms from scratch.

Optimus V3 Version: The "Very Different" Mentioned by Musk

Why did Musk say that the Optimus V3 version is special? Because this version of Optimus emphasizes improved freedom of movement and battery life, preparing for operations in manufacturing, logistics, and hazardous environments.

Optimus has a height of about 173 cm and weighs 56 kg, with 40 degrees of freedom (joints that can move freely). Compared to the previous generation, V3 has significant improvements in the following areas:

Hardware Upgrade Highlights:

Degrees of freedom: increased from 28 to 40, significantly improving hand dexterity.

Endurance: Increased battery capacity allows for continuous operation for several hours.

Lifting capacity: can lift 20 kg objects with one hand

Walking speed: The maximum speed can reach 8 kilometers.

Fine operations: Fingers can perform precise actions such as twisting screws and connecting wires.

Software and AI Optimization:

· Training dataset increased by 10 times

· Decision-making reaction speed improved by 40%

· Support multi-tasking and parallel processing

· Continuously learn new skills through the cloud

· The human-machine interaction interface is more intuitive.

These improvements have made Optimus V3 no longer just a laboratory showcase, but a commercial product with practical working capabilities.

Commercialization Progress: 2026 Mass Production Plan

Musk previously estimated that Optimus could be mass-produced by 2026, with a price of about 18,999 USD (approximately 600,000 New Taiwan Dollars), indicating that commercial viability has been considered in the design.

Pricing Strategy Analysis:

Compared to high-end industrial Bots: traditional industrial robotic arms cost between 50,000 to 100,000 USD.

Comparing labor costs: The annual labor cost in the U.S. manufacturing industry is about 40,000 to 60,000 USD.

Payback Period: Estimated 6-12 months to break even

Target market: small and medium-sized manufacturers, logistics warehousing, service industry

TSL hopes to establish a closed-loop ecosystem using big data and its own chip advantages, turning Bots into multifunctional assistants to help with material handling, assembly of parts, and even play a role in long-term care or disaster rescue missions.

Potential Application Scenarios:

Manufacturing: Parts assembly, quality inspection, machine maintenance

Logistics and Warehousing: Goods handling, inventory counting, packaging operations

Service Industry: Food Delivery, Cleaning, Reception and Guidance

Medical long-term care: patient transfer, rehabilitation assistance, daily care

Dangerous operations: disaster search and rescue, nuclear power maintenance, high-altitude operations

Musk stated in an interview: "Optimus will ultimately become TSL's most valuable product, with a market size that may surpass the electric vehicle business."

Humanoid Bots Market Competition Landscape

Although the market is optimistic about the prospects of humanoid Bots, there are still doubts about the stability and precision of operations of the Bots. TSL Optimus is not the only player in the market, as many tech giants and startups are competing in this field.

Main Competitors Comparison

Boston Dynamics Atlas:

Technical Route: Hydraulic Drive System

Athletic ability: parkour, backflips and other high-difficulty movements

Disadvantages: Extremely high cost, short endurance, difficult commercialization

Positioning: Technical Demonstration and Military Applications

Figure AI:

Technical route: Electric drive + AI vision

Features: Developed in collaboration with OpenAI for conversational capabilities

Progress: BMW factory order test has been obtained.

Positioning: Manufacturing Automation

Xiaomi CyberOne:

Technical route: electric drive + Xiaomi AI ecosystem

Feature: Integration of smart home control

Progress: Still in the concept demonstration stage.

Positioning: Consumer-grade home assistant

TSL Optimus Advantages:

· Large-scale accumulation of FSD data and algorithms

· Self-developed AI chip cost control capabilities

· TSL factory serves as a real-world testing scenario

· Synergy in the Electric Vehicle Supply Chain

· Musk brand appeal

· Technical challenges still need to be overcome

For example, Boston Dynamics Atlas, which also focuses on agility, is still more nimble than Optimus when it comes to overcoming obstacles and high-speed movements, because Optimus must work continuously for several hours in real factory and storage scenarios to persuade more potential customers to pay.

Current technical bottlenecks:

Range limitations: Battery technology still needs breakthroughs.

Precision operation stability: Accuracy decreases in vibrating environments.

Complex environment adaptation: Insufficient judgment ability in unstructured scenarios.

Human-Machine Safety Collaboration: Emergency Stop Mechanism and Force Control

Maintenance Costs: Joint Wear and Software Update Frequency

The industry generally believes that truly mature commercial humanoid Bots will require at least 3-5 years of development time. Tesla's advantage lies in having real manufacturing scenarios for rapid iteration, as well as a massive data collection capability.

Musk has repeatedly stated that the market potential of the Optimus Bots may surpass all other TSL products. He estimates that the global demand for humanoid robots could reach billions of units, far exceeding the scale of the automotive market.

Market Size Forecast:

Morgan Stanley: The humanoid robot market will reach $350 billion by 2040.

Goldman Sachs: Global shipments will exceed 1.4 million units by 2035.

ARK Invest: The market size will reach $240 billion by 2030.

If TSL can capture 20-30% of the market share, the revenue from the Optimus business could reach hundreds of billions of dollars in the 2030s, becoming the third major pillar industry after electric vehicles and energy storage systems.