Tesla is expanding its teleoperation team for its robotaxis and humanoid robots. According to a recent job posting, the company is seeking a software engineer specializing in C++ to lead the development of a virtual reality application for remote operators.
The job ad also offers insights into the company’s future direction following the “We, Robot” event in early October. During the event, Tesla showcased several units of its Optimus humanoids and Cybercab robotaxis, although it remained unclear whether these vehicles could move autonomously.
A Teleoperation Team at Tesla
In October, Tesla presented the latest version of its humanoid robot, which served drinks in a bar and danced to music. Some attendees felt they were witnessing the future. However, it was later revealed that this “magical” technology was made possible by what the company referred to as human assistance.
The reason for not deploying fully autonomous robots in crowded environments is clear: This technology still needs to mature. In the future, Tesla aims for both its humanoid robots and robotaxi service to operate autonomously, although teleoperation remains crucial.
Training tasks with human teleoperation.
In its recent job posting, Tesla says there’ll be scenarios where operators must connect to cars and robots. “Our remote operators are transported into the device’s world using a state-of-the-art VR rig that allows them to remotely perform complex and intricate tasks,” the company adds.
An Optimus robot at October’s “We, Robot” event.
Time will tell how involved operators will be in Tesla’s fully autonomous products. Meanwhile, it’s interesting to see how other industry players are handling similar challenges. For instance, the self-driving car company Cruise currently offers a robotaxi service and frequently employs teleoperators.
According to Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt, company personnel can connect to the vehicles to assist with very complex maneuvers. Teleoperators can also take control of the car during a police control. At the moment, autonomous technology isn’t as capable as many believe, although this is expected to change over time.
As an interesting note, Tesla’s job offer includes a salary ranging from $120,000 to $318,000 per year and a compensation package that includes stock awards and benefits. The successful applicant for this full-time position will need to work from Palo Alto, California.
Image | Tesla | Eric Prouzet
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