Tesla has acquired Virtuix's Omni One treadmill system to train its Optimus humanoid robots. The deal brings the omnidirectional treadmill into Tesla's robotics program, though financial terms were not disclosed.
What the Omni One system does
The Omni One is a treadmill system. It allows a person or robot to walk, run, and move in any direction while staying in place. Virtuix originally developed the platform for virtual reality applications, but Tesla plans to use it differently.
Why Tesla needs it for Optimus
Optimus is Tesla's general-purpose humanoid robot. The company has been testing the robot in its factories. Training a bipedal robot to walk and move naturally requires a controlled environment. The Omni One gives Optimus a surface to practice locomotion without the risk of falling or damaging the robot.
Tesla did not say how many units it acquired or when training will begin. The company also hasn't detailed what specific tasks Optimus will learn on the treadmill.
Tesla continues to develop Optimus for industrial and eventually household use. The acquisition of the Omni One system is one step in that process. No timeline has been given for when Optimus will be ready for broader deployment.
