Tesla Model 3 Now Offers 'Summon' Self-Parking Feature (autoblog.com)

The "Summon" feature that the Model S and Model X have had for a while is now available in the Tesla Model 3. The feature allows the car to park autonomously without anyone in the car; it can even operate the garage door as it parks and powers down, or when it is called out of its parking spot by the owner. Autoblog reports: Tesla tweeted the news in response to a video showing a Model 3 park itself in a tight space in a home garage, before the garage door closes behind it. Elon Musk replied to Tesla's tweet by assuring viewers, "Note, no one is in the car or controlling remotely. Car is driving entirely by itself." The feature comes via an over-the-air software update.

Comments

Re:Scary

[Rei]

What happens in the event of a computer or actuator malfunction?

The control unit has onboard redundancy. There are redundant actuators controlling all safety-related driving functions. You can see the layout here.

Re, crashing: anything that deploys the airbags also deploys the pyro fuse in the battery pack. All HV power is instantaneously cut. No driving.

What's to prevent a thief / hijacker from opening the doors and driving off? Um, the locks? The fact that touching the door handles, steering wheel, accelerator, or pretty much anything else disables Summon? The fact that (assuming we're talking about the Model 3) you have to have a paired phone or the card in the car to drive it?