Tesla Bot has got our competitive juices flowing, says Boston Dynamics CEO
Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter has commented on Tesla Bot, Tesla’s humanoid robot project, and he says it ignited a competitive spirit at the company.
Ever since Tesla announced its humanoid robot project, it has often been compared to Boston Dynamics, which is widely recognized as the leader in robotics.
The company was founded three decades ago as a spin-off from the MIT.
To the public, they are mostly known for their flashy and impressive videos of robots dancing and doing parkour, but they also work closely with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
It became more popular when it was acquired by Google, but it has since changed hands a few times and now it is owned by Hyundai.
With videos like this one below, Boston Dynamics has been able to grab most of the attention around robotics, but Tesla has been able to steal some of the attention away lately.
While Boston Dynamics is taking the approach of mainly developing new robotic technology and gradually finding applications for them, Tesla has been able to grab attention by instead selling the ambitious goal of general-purpose AI-based humanoid robot that will be to do a lot of different tasks.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk went as far as claiming that “everyone will want one,” and it could be as cheap as $30,000. This is significantly different from Boston Dynamics’ strategy, which involves selling way more expensive robots for more specific – mostly commercial and industrial – purposes.
But they are still expected to compete with Tesla Bot, which is expected to be used in manufacturing facilities at first.
Now Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter has commented on the new competition on the Lex Fridman podcast:
The CEO commented on Tesla getting into the robotics space:
It brought a bright light to the work we have been doing for over a decade and I think that’s only going to help. In fact, what we have seen, in addition to Tesla, we have seen a proliferation of robotic companies arise. […] It has brought excitement. Competitive juices are flowing. It’s all good.
Fridman asked Playter about his company going in a similar direction as Tesla with a more general-purpose and cheaper robot.
The CEO said that it is kind of why they released the following video:
Playter explained:
We wanted to show the world that we can do this parkour thing, but we can also pick up and move heavy things. If you are going to work in a manufacturing environment, that’s what you gotta be able to do. For the reasons I explained earlier, it’s not trivial to do so.
The CEO added that they plan to add more dextrous hands to Atlas, their humanoid robots. The hands were probably the most impressive part of Tesla’s latest robot demonstration last week.
Playter added:
Elon has seen the same thing. He is talking about using the robots in a manufacturing environment. We think there’s something very interesting there – about having a two-arm robot.
When asked about cost and how Tesla is focused on bringing the cost down, the CEO admitted that Tesla is in a great position by leveraging what it learned from benefits electric vehicles at scale, but he noted that Boston Dynamics also has the benefits of being backed by an automaker: Hyundai.
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Climate XChange’s Annual EV Raffle is back for the 10th year running – and for the first time ever, Climate XChange has two raffle options on the table! The nonprofit has helped lucky winners custom-order their ideal EVs for the past decade. Now you have the chance to kick off your holiday season with a brand new EV for as little as $100.
About half of the raffle tickets have been sold so far for each of the raffles – you can see the live ticket count on Climate XChange’s homepage – so your odds of winning are better than ever.
But don’t wait – raffle ticket sales end on December 8!
Climate XChange is working hard to help states transition to a zero-emissions economy. Every ticket you buy supports this mission while giving you a chance to drive home your dream EV.
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The Luxury Raffle
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Why it’s worth entering
For a decade, Climate XChange has run a raffle that’s fair, transparent, and exciting. Every ticket stub is printed, and the entire drawing is live-streamed, including the loading of the raffle drum. Independent auditors also oversee the process.
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How to enter
Go to CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek before December 8 to buy your ticket. Start dreaming up your perfect EV – and know that no matter what, you’re helping accelerate the shift to clean energy.
Who is Climate XChange?
Climate XChange (CXC) is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies because they’re critical in accelerating the transition to a zero-emissions economy. CXC advances state climate policy through its State Climate Policy Network (SCPN) – a community of more than 15,000 advocates and policymakers – and its State Climate Policy Dashboard, a leading data platform for tracking climate action across the US.
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The CSC Monterey – one of the most charming little electric scooters on the US market – has dropped to a shockingly low $1,699, down from its original $2,899 MSRP. That’s nearly half off for a full-size, street-legal electric scooter that channels major Honda Super Cub energy, but without the gas, noise, or maintenance of the original.
CSC Motorcycles, based in Azusa, California, has a long history of importing and supporting small-format electric and gas bikes, but the Monterey has always stood out as the brand’s “fun vibes first” model. With its step-through frame, big retro headlight, slim bodywork, and upright seating position, it looks like something from a 1960s postcard – just brought into the modern era with lithium batteries and a brushless hub motor.
I had my first experience on one of these scooters back in 2021, when I reviewed the then-new model here on Electrek. I instantly fell in love with it and even got one for my dad. It now lives at his place and I think he gets just as much joy from looking at it in his garage as riding it.
You can see my review video below.
The performance is solidly moped-class, which is exactly what it’s designed for. A 2,400W rear hub motor pushes the Monterey up to a claimed 30 mph or 48 km/h (I found it really topped out at closer to 32 mph or 51 km/h), making it perfect for city streets, beach towns, and lower-speed suburban routes.
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It’s also remarkably approachable. At around 181 pounds (82 kg), the Monterey is light for a sit-down scooter, making it easy to maneuver and park. There’s a small storage cubby, LED lighting, and the usual simple twist-and-go operation. And it comes with full support from CSC, a company that keeps a massive warehouse stocked with components and spare parts.
My sister has a CSC SG250 (I’m still trying to convert her to electric) and has gotten great support from them in the past, including from their mechanics walking her through carburetor questions over the phone. So I know from personal experience that CSC is a great company that stands behind its bikes.
But the real story here is the price. Scooters in this class typically hover between $2,500 and $4,500, and electric retro-style models often jump well above that.
At $1,699, the Monterey is one of the least expensive street-legal electric scooters available from a reputable US distributor, especially one that actually stocks parts and provides phone support.
If you’ve been curious about swapping a few car errands for something electric – or you just want a fun, vintage-styled runabout for getting around town – this is one of the best deals of the year.
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss a big Tesla Robotaxi setback, the new Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, Bollinger is over, and more.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. Sales end on Dec. 8th for its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
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