Elon Musk wants to give amputees robotic limbs powered by chips implanted in their brains

On Wednesday, Elon Musk proposed a concept for a fresh range of Tesla merchandise: mechanical limbs. Yes, you heard it correctly. Tesla is currently developing a humanoid robot. Musk believes that this technology could also be utilized to manufacture prosthetic limbs.

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In the midst of launching rockets for SpaceX, inspecting the Tesla production line, and entertaining his followers with hilarious memes on Twitter, Elon Musk manages to find moments to contemplate fresh product concepts.

During the occasion of informing investors about Tesla's performance in the second quarter, the extremely wealthy entrepreneur mentioned a concept for a fresh range of Tesla merchandise: mechanical limbs. Yes, you heard it correctly.

The world of Musk can be perplexing and dynamic, hence let me fill you in. During a Tesla gathering in the later part of 2021, Musk announced that the car manufacturer was in the process of creating a humanoid robot. This Tesla Bot is projected to stand at 5-foot-8, possess a walking speed of 5 miles-per-hour, be driven by artificial intelligence and cameras, and ultimately alleviate humans from the burdensome tasks of factory labor and other physical work, according to Musk. Additionally, he assured us that if necessary, we humans will be able to overpower the robot, which provides some reassurance.

Later in 2022, while Musk was caught up in a hostile battle to retract his agreement to acquire Twitter, Tesla unveiled a tangible model. Musk has expressed that the robot initiative, known as the Optimus project, holds utmost significance for Tesla and could potentially generate greater profits than its main vehicle venture in the long run. This is undoubtedly thrilling news for Tesla shareholders.

That takes us back to mechanical limbs.

During the earnings call of Tesla, an investor raised a query regarding the advancements made with the Optimus bot. The investor was curious about the number of robots that Tesla has constructed so far. Musk provided a somewhat ambiguous response and proceeded to create anticipation regarding another prospective application of Optimus technology: cutting-edge prosthetics.

By merging cutting-edge robotics developed by Tesla with brain-implant innovation from Musk's alternate venture, Neuralink, individuals who have undergone amputations could potentially acquire a robotic arm or leg that surpasses the functionality of a natural limb in the long run. Musk noted that Neuralink is currently focusing on creating implants that enable individuals with physical disabilities to operate a computer or mobile device through brain control.

According to Musk, we have confidence in our ability to provide an exceptionally efficient cyborg physique.

It is important to remember that Musk, in addition to his numerous accomplishments, has announced numerous groundbreaking ideas that have yet to come to fruition.

Over the past few years, he has consistently claimed that self-driving Teslas will be available in the near future. However, the Tesla Roadster, a remarkably fast sports car capable of hovering short distances, has faced significant delays. Additionally, in 2015, Tesla showcased a robotic electric vehicle charger designed to automatically connect to a Tesla's charging port, but unfortunately, it never materialized into a tangible product.

Regarding Optimus, Musk expressed his assurance on Wednesday that the robots will have a practical role in Tesla factories by the following year.