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All Tesla Vehicles Being Produced Now Have Full Self-Driving Hardware (jalopnik.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Jalopnik: All current Tesla models that will be produced in its Fremont, California factory will come with self-driving hardware built-in capable of Level 5 autonomy, including the upcoming Tesla Model 3, the company announced tonight. According to the announcement, Tesla will manufacture all of its cars with the hardware necessary for Level 5 self-driving systems going forward, including the Model S, Model X and new Model 3. At the introduction of the Model 3, it wasn't clear whether or not every Model 3 package would come standard with the hardware and software to handle Autopilot and any other self-driving features. That's been cleared up now, but there's a kicker. Just like on current Model S and Model X models, you can purchase the cars with the self-driving hardware included. But, in order to activate the software and actually use the Autopilot or upcoming advanced self-driving safety features, you will have to option it when you order the car, or pay more for it later. Elon Musk stated that the new hardware in all of Tesla's cars going forward are Tesla's own vision software, with a Tesla-developed neural net. The new hardware and software capabilities still need to undergo all of the testing required by Tesla's own standards, as well as government approval before unleashing Level 5 autonomous cars onto the streets.
Been a long time since I've seen a story get onto Slashdot this quickly
Pain is merely failure leaving the body
The claim in the press release is "full class 5 driving", which means fully autonomous. I'll believe it when I see it. It seems like a strong claim to make that "we don't know how to do full class 5 driving yet, but we know this hardware is enough to meet the requirements of the thing we don't know".
"To make sense of all of this data, a new onboard computer with more than 40 times the computing power of the previous generation runs the new Tesla-developed neural net for vision, sonar and radar processing software."
https://www.tesla.com/blog/all...
So what you're saying is... the cpu is a neural net processor, a learning computer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
I'll believe it when I see it. It seems like a strong claim to make that "we don't know how to do full class 5 driving yet, but we know this hardware is enough to meet the requirements of the thing we don't know".
Just because something isn't done yet doesn't mean they don't know how to do it. Tesla has self-driving software under test, that mostly works with their current cars. It is not yet ready for the public, but that isn't because of any deficiencies in the sensors.
And yeah, there is a warning that goes off if the driver takes their hands of the wheel.
There is now. But originally, there was no warning. Tesla added the warning via a software update, because too many drivers were taking naps or watching movies.
I don't give a damn how many cameras it has. I could drive with six people in my car, but twelve eyes doesn't make the drive safer than two. This is all about whether those 18 cameras and 12 ultrasound sensors can keep a car in a lane that has six inches of snow covering it.
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The point I was making, that if a human can interpret the visual information it's given, then a car with a bigger sensor set can in theory do it too. It's all about software at that point, but there's no limitation on hardware here that a human doesn't have.
Level 5 means not having any controls that a human can use. So, unless their "future upgrade" includes ripping out the steering wheel and pedals, etc, then the car is only "level 4 ready".
The same as a human? They use visual cues such as other vehicles? Or perhaps they use Tesla's fleet learning experience to see where other vehicles have travelled in the area previously?
- Chuq
Maybe you can explain how these work in snow when they still need to see clear lane markings.
I have a Tesla. They work fine in the snow. In fact, Tesla specifically recommends engaging Autopilot on snowy roads because that is safer than driving yourself. Tesla Autopilot has driven several million miles on snowy and icy roads.
It is funny how people trying to point out weaknesses of SDCs, often focus on areas there they are particularly strong. On snowy roads, a human has only their eyes, so if they cannot see the lane markings, they have difficulty navigating. Tesla has cameras for vision, but also has GPS and radar, and can access a database of "landmarks" such as mileage markers, traffic signs, etc. that they can use as waypoints.
Humans don't require that. In theory the only sensors a self driving car needs is two cameras at driver head height in the diver seat with the ability to swivel around. Everything else is 'just software'.
Even if you had a heat sensor you'd still have to educate the car. It could be a hot bag or cold animal. Sensors aren't the issue, you need EXCELLENT software.
The point I was making, that if a human can interpret the visual information it's given, then a car with a bigger sensor set can in theory do it too. It's all about software at that point, but there's no limitation on hardware here that a human doesn't have.
Yeah but... Tesla's claim is like saying the brain consumes about 20W, the car can deliver 20W so it's "ready to support an artifical brain". While that might be technically correct it is also grossly misleading, in that we don't have and don't really expect to have an AI working at all or so well and certainly not within the constraints of a human body in the foreseeable future. Same thing with cameras, I expect the first real SDCs to use optical and radar and lidar and every other trick in the book to overcome the shortcomings of the brain behind it. Same way some talk of trying to simulate the brain with >10 megawatt computers.
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I'd like to see the Tesla pull over if a police officer waves it over from the side of the road. L5 requires that.
I want to see the Tesla navigate construction cones when lanes are shut down. L5 requires that too.
I want to see the Tesla go through a red light when an Ambulance comes up behind it and there is no other way to get out of the way. L5 requires that too.
And there is probably hundreds of items like that L5 requires. So remains to be seen if they are really L5.
The manual for the Model S and Model X both disagree with you. They explicitly state not to use autopilot in slippery conditions. Just like every other cruise control system on the market.
That said, we also know that this new hardware is NOT enough for full AP in inclement weather, or even a light drizzle of rain, because none of the rear cameras have wipers on them, and if you've ever tried to use the backup camera in the rain you'll see the problem.
Cameras are essential for forward vision to deal with lane markings and signage, however to see cars coming behind you, you need radar, and they still haven't included rear radar.
"Level 5 autonomy" in a car that can't drive in the rain is ridiculous.