I believe there’s a big gap between flashy robot prototypes and commercially viable products.
Humanoid robots like Optimus often seem more about securing business contracts or generating publicity, while real-world applications usually require specialized, less advanced robots, like one-arm robots or Stretch.
The development of robots like Boston Dynamics’ Spot tells us how long it takes to turn prototypes into practical products, and the transition from Handle to Stretch highlights the trade-offs between advanced demos and actual commercial viability.
I think humanoid robots are more of a long-term investment for future use in factories.
I think for household settings, a bipedal robot may be more ideal. Homes and the furniture inside are laid out according to the way humans move. That 2-foot space between the couch and The Good Chair that you walk between 20 times a day without any issue? A wheeled robot may struggle to navigate that, and may instead have to take a longer and slower route around the couch to get past. Got stairs in your house? Don’t even get me started on trying to get a wheeled robot up the stairs. Bipedal bots would be more plug-and-play in these settings, and would require less supporting infrastructure.
But for commercial/industrial use cases, I think the mode of ambulation should be purpose-built to the task and setting.