Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.
TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust.
In brief: Would you like to help train Tesla's humanoid Optimus robots by wearing a motion-capture suit and VR headset? The automaker is hiring Data Collection Operators, a role that involves these tasks and pays up to $48 per hour, though there are some physical and height requirements.
Elon Musk has made a lot of big claims about Tesla's Optimus robots. The billionaire said in June that they would help push the company's market cap up to $25 trillion. That's based on another one of Musk's predictions: in the future, there will be at least one humanoid robot for every person in the world.
Tesla will begin using a small number of Optimus robots for its internal operations next year, while mass production for third-party companies is set to start in 2026. As such, Tesla has been hiring dozens of workers to train the robot over the last year, writes Insider.
According to the careers section of Tesla's website, the Data Collection Operator job at the company's Palo Alto facility involves walking a pre-determined test route for data collection purposes. Successful candidates will have to wear a motion capture suit and virtual reality headset while performing designated movements.
Applicants need to be physically fit as the role involves walking more than seven hours per day while carrying up to 30 pounds. They must also be between 5'7'' and 5'11'' to fit into the motion capture suits and be comfortable with working in a VR environment for extended periods of time, which can make some people nauseous. Musk said Optimus will be around five foot, eight inches tall, hence the height requirements.
Being able to stand, sit, walk, stoop, bend, reach, crouch, and twist throughout the day is also a requirement. Workers will have to analyze the information they collect and write reports.
The listing also states that candidates must be able to work a flexible day/night schedule and one weekend with overtime when needed. The position pays $25.25 - $48.00 per hour along with cash and stock awards and benefits.
Thanks to a post on the official X account, we got to see some of Optimus' human trainers working in their motion capture suits and VR headsets last year.
– Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) May 16, 2023
Musk says that several Optimus robots have already been put to work at Tesla's Fremont factory, taking cells off the end of the assembly line and putting them in shipping containers. As is the case with Amazon's factory robots, there are concerns about the impact Optimus will have on human jobs.