Autopilot mode in the new Tesla firmware update - where can you use it?
Autopilot mode in the new Tesla firmware update - where can you use it?
Posted on December 8, 2015
Autopilot Mode in the New Tesla Firmware
Since the very beginning of the science fiction genre people have dreamt up cars that can drive themselves and their passengers to their destination.
And for years we’ve been let down by every movie or promise made to us.
That is… until now!
By now most people who are at least somewhat connected to global news or the automotive industry should have heard about Tesla’s autopilot feature. If you haven’t we can break it down pretty quickly by stating that it does pretty much what the name suggests.
Available on Model S Teslas, the recent software version 7.0 update allows the vehicle to utilize a combination of its radar, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors alongside stored data to automatically drive itself.
The future, as they say, is here!
Where Can I Use it?
Well, that’s the best part about the new autopilot feature – it’s intended to be used on highways with a built-in responsiveness that accommodates itself to let automatically steer on the highway, changing lanes when needed, all the while adjusting speed in response to traffic.
Even when you’ve exited the highway and have found your way into a residential or commercial area, the Tesla autopilot features will scan for parking spaces and parallel park at your command.
Imagine – setting your destination and giving over control to the vehicle itself.
As much as the idea may seem frightful it should be noted that it has been rigorously tested and will continue to receive updates as more data is collected.
What Features Does the Update Include?
Update 7.0 includes Autosteer, a feature that is still in Beta (meaning that it hasn’t been completed yet, and that the final version will incorporate additional elements) which enables the car to move between lanes while activating Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to maintain an appropriate speed.
In respect to the fact that Autosteer is still in-development drivers have been asked to keep their hands on the wheel while the vehicle is moving.
Alongside Autosteer, the new Tesla update adds Auto Lane Change to your roster of high-tech skills and can be engaged by using the turn signal, moving to adjacent lane when the sensors have established it is appropriate and safe to do so.
Automatic Emergency Steering and Side Collision Warning systems contribute to the Tesla’s arsenal of features, with the capability to sense range and alert drivers to any objects, or vehicles, that are in close proximity. This is represented visually through fluid lines on the Instrument Panel so as to indicate where the potential issue is currently located.
Finally, as we’ve already noted, there’s Autopark and it’s pretty much what you can imagine it to be. The new Tesla models with this firmware update can now use their various assessment technologies to parallel park with ease.
Intelligently Designed Vehicles
The impressive qualities that make the technology so revolutionary comes down to how these vehicles cope with new situations and how they develop better responses to new situations. Specifically, the Tesla computers are designed to learn.
Utilizing advanced machine learning algorithms, the computers assess large data sets and analyze it to make accurate predictions. The same technology is present in companies the likes of Facebook, Google, and Microsoft, and encourage software to better recognize and solve problems without the need of additional programming or human intervention.
Elon Musk, the man behind Tesla has gone on to say that, “[t]he whole Tesla fleet operates as a network. When one car learns something, they all learn it.” This enables all cars to gain the experience and the solutions from every driver that turns the Autopilot mode on.
When Are We Likely to See This Working In Canada?
The stages are already set and tests are already underway! In fact, early in October, 2015, Tesla owners were offered the option for a $3,000 software update for any Model S models built after 2014. Those who did will eventually be rewarded with the Autopilot feature.
However, some areas are opening up to the idea, Ontario, for example, will start allowing the autonomous vehicle on the roads and highways for testing purposes in January, 2016.
This comes with the condition that drivers must be physically present at all times in addition to having a license and registration issued by the Ministry of Transportation. Similar to regular registration, this documentation needs to be kept in the vehicle and produced should the driver be stopped by a police officer. Add to this the requirement of those participating to have a minimum liability coverage of $5 million.
To learn more about this and other innovative vehicle features come down to Basant Motors where our team will be happy to provide you with information and above-the-call hospitality.