How many Tesla accidents will happen in the next week? (auto steering releases 10/15)

[Ferzerp]

I'm wondering how many people will have catastrophic operator error using the new autopilot features coming out tomorrow. If you're not aware, the delayed autosteering capability will be released for Teslas. I know I am going to go through a long learning period finding its limits, etc before I trust it completely.

As I understand it, unlike the Mercedes solution, it is totally hands (and feet) free as long as the system is confident in its input data.

I really hope my car gets the update tonight, though as I understand it, it is only a 5 day roll-out anyway.

 

[Kaido]

My wife's car has radar cruise, so pretty much all you have to do is steer, and it's amazing...just short of auto-pilot. It's good enough that I can set the speed after I merge on the highway & not touch the pedals until I have to exit. Steering is obviously a more complicated job, but not impossible given the constraints. Tesla's blog said that true driverless is still a few years away, but this is a pretty amazing leap even so. Make sure to update the thread after you get the update!

 

[Ferzerp]

Will do. Also, the press page says "driver must keep hands on the wheel". Unless the software is different from the beta, and the version they had journalists try, this is just a disclaimer of sorts because it is only making you touch the wheel when it needs help.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Does it just update wirelessly while you have it plugged in at home? Does it connect to your wifi or does it have its own? Yes, I could google this technically.

 

[tortillasoup]

All teslas have wireless (cellular) internet connection so they can update anywhere there is a connection.

 

[Ferzerp]

I'm not sure if they will update over the built in cellular. You're supposed to connect them to your home wifi for updates.

 

[tortillasoup]

I'm not sure if they will update over the built in cellular. You're supposed to connect them to your home wifi for updates.

Absolutely can update over the cellular. Most people don't even pair their cars to the home wifi.

 

[z1ggy]

OP you get the software update yet? Will be interested to hear about first person account.

 

[DaTT]

I believe Audi has this feature, unless they have not released it yet. Although theirs is for when you are in traffic and you must manually drive the car when traffic clears and you get up to a certain speed.

But yeah, Ferzerp, has yours been updated yet?

 

[vi edit]

I believe Audi has this feature, unless they have not released it yet. Although theirs is for when you are in traffic and you must manually drive the car when traffic clears and you get up to a certain speed.

But yeah, Ferzerp, has yours been updated yet?

That would be so awesome. Stuck on the highway at a crawl and just hit a button and the car does the stop/crawl/break/crawl/break/break/crawl/ect for you. Meanwhile you can facebook away how miserable it is to be stuck in traffic .

Seriously though...that is incredibly useful technology. I HATE being stuck on the interstate for an hour at a crawl. Foot cramps up, leg cramps up. Just want to rage on something. If the car drives for me? I can read a book or something.

 

[Ferzerp]

Car is updating right now. It said it would take an hour and a half

 

[Ferzerp]

It's pretty flawless on interstates. On secondary roads it does surprisingly well. When there are the type of turn offs with a dotted line and a white marked turn area, it can get confused and go in to that, but it isn't really supposed to be used on that kind of road yet anyway. Regular turn lane areas that are yellow marked don't confuse it.

I drove about 30 miles. It only asked for help in weird intersections, and once when we slowed to a stop in a sharp turn and the car in front of the car I was following turned off. If used on the proper roads, and as long as you pay enough attention to jump in if it needs you, it's a great thing. It is really good at stop and go rush hour type traffic on secondary roads too (in addition to handling interstate driving with rush hour conditions as well).

I wasn't brave enough to ask it for a lane change when the lane beside me was occupied, but I plan to eventually, maybe with someone I know driving beside me, just in case.

Like TACC, it's wonderful, but *only* if you understand the limitations. If you don't, then I can see problems arising.

edit: Oh, and I tried it on a road I knew I shouldn't. It was a narrow road (barely enough room for the car in its lane) with a center yellow line, but no white line on the edge. It had a two off I was expecting it though.

 

[Insomniator]

If I still have to pay attention the road anyway, I think I'd always rather be doing the driving myself. I never use cruise control, and its not like we can start browsing reddit while these cars drive themselves.

What do you do, just sit there staring out the window waiting for the car to prompt for input? I'll be in when there aren't even windows and I can sleep on my way to my destination.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, if I used this while sitting in traffic I would certainly either fall asleep or get a ticket for using my phone. So yeah, a bit pointless IMHO. (and certainly dangerous)

 

[sontakke]

Exactly; I am not getting this at all. Parallel parking, I can understand but adaptive cruise control does not seem to be taking the driving out of drivers hand. I rarely use cruise control though as I do not like my vehicle punching the gas when it encounters slight grade in the road. I prefer to drive the vehicle with constant throttle than at constant velocity.

 

[Bacstar]

This is pretty amazing. My old 300 S had the adaptive cruise control which was awesome, but here in anchorage, I rarely had reason to use it, so I didn't bother getting it when I got the Jeep. Anywayz, I can't believe we're already at that point where cars that can almost drive themselves are in the public's hands. Hopefully nothing catastrophic happens where they have to pull this update.

 

[Midwayman]

Somebody is going to turn it on and goto sleep or something. It'll come to a stop when it doesn't know what to do and cause an accident. Or someone won't pay attention they can't actually turn it on, let go of the wheel and wonder why they run into something. I expect crashes from people being idiots in general however that's why google wants to jump straight to level 4. This partial automation is great if you use it correctly, but people will be people.

 

[Ferzerp]

Somebody is going to turn it on and goto sleep or something. It'll come to a stop when it doesn't know what to do and cause an accident. Or someone won't pay attention they can't actually turn it on, let go of the wheel and wonder why they run into something. I expect crashes from people being idiots in general however that's why google wants to jump straight to level 4. This partial automation is great if you use it correctly, but people will be people.

Well, I for one am glad to have this *now*. Too many times are things held back from responsible people due to what someone less responsible might do.

 

[NutBucket]

#2A.....

 

[LTC8K6]

I would guess that riding on the interstate without your hands on the wheel could get you a reckless driving charge?

If it won't, then there's no reason to outlaw texting and driving, or otherwise doing things besides driving the car while the car is on the road.

Since you can't legally text, or do much of anything else to occupy yourself in most states, I see boredom setting in just sitting there at the wheel and doing nothing.

 

[LTC8K6]

If I still have to pay attention the road anyway, I think I'd always rather be doing the driving myself. I never use cruise control, and its not like we can start browsing reddit while these cars drive themselves.

What do you do, just sit there staring out the window waiting for the car to prompt for input? I'll be in when there aren't even windows and I can sleep on my way to my destination.

Tesla does make you demonstrate that you are awake every so often. You have to take command once in a while, or the car will come to a stop. :biggrin:

At least, that's what a video on it said it would do.

 

[BurnItDwn]

this will reduce accidents, but not sure how much it will reduce them.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, if I used this while sitting in traffic I would certainly either fall asleep or get a ticket for using my phone. So yeah, a bit pointless IMHO. (and certainly dangerous)

Yeah, if I have to just sit there like a bump on a log, I'll just go ahead and drive the car.

 

[EightySix Four]

Kind of cool that all of the cars feed back data so they can see what situations it is failing in and why, no better way to learn.

 

[Ferzerp]

Tesla does make you demonstrate that you are awake every so often. You have to take command once in a while, or the car will come to a stop. :biggrin:

At least, that's what a video on it said it would do.

As I understand it, of only asks for help when it needs it. I only did 10 miles on the interstate earlier, and I never had to touch the wheel. I was indicating for lane changes though. However, if you ignore requests for help, yes, it will slow to a stop and put on the hazard lights.