NVIDIA Launches Jetson Thor: Pioneering ‘Physical AI’ to Enhance Humanoid Robot Intelligence and Capability

NVIDIA has recently unveiled its latest iteration of the Jetson system, powered by the advanced Blackwell architecture, which is set to usher in a new era for humanoid robotics.

NVIDIA Jetson Thor: Enhanced Compute Capabilities Come at a Premium

In a bold move, CEO Jensen Huang has spotlighted ‘Physical AI’ as a pivotal focus for NVIDIA’s future, highlighting its potential not just for revenue growth but also for enhancing the autonomous reasoning abilities of robots powered by AI. In a recent blog post, NVIDIA introduced the Jetson Thor modules, which significantly surpass the compute capabilities of the previous Jetson Orin series and lay the groundwork for more intelligent humanoid robots.

A person demonstrating a compact computer on a table next to a detached circuit board. — Image Credits: NVIDIA

On a technical level, the Jetson Thor boasts the innovative Blackwell-based Jetson T5000 module, which features 14 ARM Neoverse-V3AE CPU cores and a powerful 2560-core GPU. NVIDIA asserts that this platform offers an unprecedented boost: 7.5 times the AI computing power, a 3.1 times increase in CPU performance, and twice the memory capacity, effectively equipping robots with advanced reasoning capabilities for various applications.

The Jetson Thor system can generate up to 2, 070 FP4 teraflops of AI computational power, utilizing only 130 watts of power. This efficiency could lead to broader adoption in humanoid robotics. Below is a summary of its specifications:

Category	Specification
Module	Jetson T5000
GPU	2560-core NVIDIA Blackwell architecture GPU with 96 fifth-gen Tensor Cores
CPU	14-core Arm Neoverse V3AE 64-bit CPU
Memory	128 GB 256-bit LPDDR5X 273 GB/s
Networking	1x 5GbE RJ45 connector, 1x QSFP28 (4x 25 GbE)
I/O	QSFP connector, HDMI port, DisplayPort, 2x USB-A 3.2, 2x USB-C 3.1, Gigabit Ethernet, 2x 13-pin CAN header, Microfit power jack
Storage	1 TB NVMe M.2 Key M slot
Power	40W – 130W

NVIDIA has announced that industry luminaries such as Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics are integrating Jetson Thor systems into their next-generation products, indicating that advanced robots could be on the horizon. However, with such cutting-edge technology comes a price tag— the Jetson AGX Thor developer kit is priced at $3, 499, a notable investment for those venturing into humanoid robot development.

Exploded view of NVIDIA Jetson T5000 with Blackwell GPU, heatsink, and I/O details.

In a show of personal endorsement, Jensen Huang has signed many of the initial Jetson Thor units shipped to customers, underscoring NVIDIA’s commitment to pioneering this segment of AI. Furthermore, a key collaborator, Foxconn, is poised to launch humanoid robots by the end of the year, hinting that Physical AI could become a transformative force following the advancements in AI training and inference.

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