#optimus

#optimus

After Sunday Robotics emerged from stealth mode last week, it revealed a team stocked with Tesla alums. At least 10 former Tesla employees work at the robotics startup, including several longtime employees who were involved in Tesla's humanoid robot and self-driving efforts, according to a LinkedIn analysis. Perry Jia, who worked on Tesla's Autopilot and Optimus programs for nearly six years, announced last week that he'd left the electric-car maker during the summer to work at the startup.

It was then no surprise that some in the Tesla community had the impression that the refined version of the prototype featured in the new images was Optimus V3. With its more advanced hands, forearms, and sleek new paint job, after all, the unit could very well be a whole new evolution of the humanoid robot. As per Musk, however, this was not the case.