Tesla has not made an announcement on when the new v8.0 software update will arrive, but expect it to arrive sooner than later, especially after Elon Musk was quoted recently as saying that the update is in the final review phase.
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Per Electrek, Autopilot Version 8.0 will have off-ramp and highway interchange features that will allow it to maneuver the auto from one highway to another with a simple turn signal by the driver. Meanwhile, Tesla is also retooling its factory in Fremont, California, in preparation for the Model 3, which is expected to begin selling at $35,000 before incentives.
In the wake of several accidents and the resulting media scrutiny of Tesla’s semi-autonomous Autopilot driver assist feature, the EV maker plans to add new safety restrictions to the system, Electrek has learned. He may not have revealed all of the major improvements that are coming to the controversial feature of his electric cars, but he did mention that radar signals will have advanced processing in v8.0.
Tesla Motors’ Chief Executive, Elon Musk, is buying $65m of bonds from SolarCity Corp, a deal which comes after the money-losing solar panel company said it would cut operating costs to bring expenses in line with its reduced solar installation outlook.
The “Autopilot” system works by aggregating data from sensors, radar, cameras, and is capable of handling lane changing and steering.
Earlier this year, Tesla saw its first fatal accident in Florida.
The self-driving feature, however, faced a lot of negativity and controversy in the last few months due to cases where people have been involved in crashes when the autopilot was active. Music is muted, the vehicle slows down, and the driver is told visually and audibly to place their hands on the wheel, according to Tesla. U.S. regulators are probing a May 7 fatality in Florida in which a driver using Tesla’s Autopilot system crashed into a truck. According to reports, Tesla’s next-gen Autopilot suite will, among other things, be able to more precisely display other cars on the digital dash along with the exact direction and angle they are moving in.
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TSLA backed the feature saying that drivers are yet to be educated as to how the feature functions. Regulators chose to investigate the accident and Tesla’s Autopilot system.
