Tesla’s Director of Optimus and Autopilot Engineering Milan Kovac has been promoted to Vice President of Optimus (Tesla Bot). The replace was posted on the manager’s private LinkedIn web page.
Just like Tesla’s Director of Autopilot Software program Ashok Elluswamy, who was promoted to Vice President of AI Software program just lately, Kovac is a veteran of the electrical automobile maker’s Autopilot staff. A have a look at Kovac’s LinkedIn web page exhibits that he has been working for the electrical automobile maker for 8 years and seven months. That’s a powerful period of time contemplating Tesla’s popularity for being a demanding office.
Kovac began his tenure at Tesla again in April 2016, when he was employed as a Employees Software program Engineer for the Autopilot staff. He solely held this submit for 3 months as he was rapidly promoted to Engineering Supervisor of Autopilot Software program in June 2016. He was additional promoted to Senior Engineering Supervisor of Autopilot Software program on January 2018, lower than two years after he joined the corporate.
Whereas we have been busy making its stroll extra strong for 10/10, we’ve additionally been engaged on extra items of autonomy for Optimus!
The absence of (helpful) GPS in most indoor environments makes visible navigation central for humanoids. Utilizing its 2D cameras, Optimus can now navigate… https://t.co/R448099uEQ
— Milan Kovac (@_milankovac_) October 17, 2024
Kovac could be promoted as soon as extra to Director of Autopilot Software program Engineering in Might 2019, and he would maintain this submit for two years and 9 months earlier than he was promoted to Director of Optimus and Autopilot Engineering. Beneath his management, Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robotic advanced from an idea to a full blown Gen 2 bipedal machine able to working autonomously within the firm’s factories.
Apparently sufficient, Kovac’s private LinkedIn web page signifies that he was promoted to Vice President of Optimus (Tesla Bot) again in September 2024. That is fairly fascinating as his promotion appeared to have been saved underneath wraps. This additionally signifies that Kovac was already promoted to his present submit when Tesla held its “We, Robotic” occasion final week.
Additionally discovered there was dialogue about Elluswamy and Kovac talking and presenting at We, Robotic and pitches made to Musk about that, however he wished to maintain it excessive degree
— Ed Ludlow (@EdLudlow) October 17, 2024
As per Bloomberg Information‘ Ed Ludlow, there have been reportedly discussions about Elluswamy and Kovac taking the stage on the “We, Robotic” occasion, and pitches have been reportedly made to Musk about this. Musk, nonetheless, reportedly wished to maintain the occasion excessive degree. This was fairly unsurprising, as Musk beforehand acknowledged that rivals are likely to carefully watch Tesla’s occasions for potential info or improvements that may be emulated.
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