Tesla will roll out an upgrade to the autopilot software for its electric vehicles in the coming weeks.
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Tesla Motors Inc. announced an upgrade Sunday for its Autopilot feature that could significantly improve the safety if its semi-autonomous driving system.
Tesla’s Version 8 software update seeks to improve the Autopilot system by using the radar as the main sensor tasked with helping the vehicle to detect obstacles.
When drivers activate Autopilot, the auto takes control – keeping pace with traffic and even changing lanes. Currently, Tesla’s “Autopilot” system relies more cameras, with radar used as a supplement since October 2014. Tesla CEO wanted to underline the fact that ideal safety is impossible to obtain, but the Tesla’s efforts are made to increase the probability of higher safety.
Musk said on Sunday that is “very likely” the improved Autopilot would have prevented the death of Brown, whose auto sped into the trailer of a truck crossing a highway.
It’s important to note that Autopilot remains in “public beta testing” and drivers are required to keep their hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road ahead. The system will place greater importance on data collected by the front radar sensor. Rather, they will now work in conjunction with the radar to provide a more-complete picture of the world around the auto.
Tesla explained that “the net effect of this, combined with the fact that radar sees through most visual obscuration, is that the vehicle should nearly always hit the brakes correctly even if a UFO were to land on the freeway in zero visibility conditions”. Brown was known for driving the auto hands-free, and according to Tesla, the car’s brakes weren’t applied before the crash.
The version 8 of their Autopilot software focuses on the radar of the sensor system and not just cameras. The system won’t initiate again until the auto is restarted. The camera-based system now in use was heavily criticised in the aftermath of that fatal May accident, which saw a Model S collide with a truck when it apparently failed to differentiate between the white vehicle and the bright sky.
Radar presents it own collection of problems, Musk points out.
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The radar can see people, but they appear translucent.
