Tesla’s humanoid robot program reached another major milestone this week after the company shared a new video of Optimus jogging smoothly across a lab floor — a capability that has long challenged robotics engineers.
The footage, originally posted by the official Tesla Optimus X account with the caption “Just set a new PR in the lab,” shows the robot maintaining a steady jog while several other units stand in formation behind it. Musk quickly reposted the video with a simple two-word caption: “Running robot.”
The moment marks a notable leap from earlier demos focused on walking,dancing, balance drills, and basic manipulation tasks. Running requires a combination of synchronized leg motion, predictive algorithms, and split-second adjustments — areas where Tesla has been investing heavily through its FSD-based AI stack and custom actuators.
A New Era of Bipedal Robotics
Bipedal running isn’t simply “walking faster.” Each stride requires a brief airborne phase, precise force control, and continuous sensor feedback to avoid instability. Tesla has been refining these motions through advanced accelerometers, gyroscopes, and computer-vision inputs that help Optimus interpret its surroundings in real time.
Behind the scenes, machine-learning systems train on thousands of iterations to improve stride regularity, shock absorption, and overall fluidity. Flexible joint materials and compliant components further help mimic the natural cushioning of human tendons — allowing for smoother, more consistent motion over longer periods.
While the running clip lasts just a few seconds, it highlights how impressive Optimus’ development has become.
When Will Optimus Arrive?
Tesla expects to begin mass production in the near future, with Musk previously estimating a price between US$20,000 and US$30,000 once the line reaches scale. At this year’s shareholder meeting, the company revealed it already has a dedicated build line in Fremont and plans to add a Giga Texas facility capable of producing up to 10 million units annually. Tesla has a target to build 1 million Optimus robots by the end of next year.
Before then, Tesla is targeting an official unveiling of Optimus V3 in Q1 2026, with a production-intent prototype expected around that time
Leadership Changes Amid Rapid Progress
The Optimus team has not been without turnover. In September, Ashish Kumar — who led Optimus AI — departed Tesla and later joined Meta. Despite the shakeup, development appears to be accelerating. As we reported earlier this week, the Optimus program poached a top Apple AI engineer.
