Reader Response Draft 3

 

 The Tesla autopilot system, also known as Full Self Driving (FSD) is a revolutionary autopilot system designed to become fully autonomous soon (Tesla Autopilot: What is it and how does it work?, 2023). Our research focuses primarily on the safety features of the system, the autopilot software, and how they work in conjunction with the Graphical User Interface (GUI). There are three levels of the autopilot system which vary based on their pricing. It starts with the basic autopiloting system, followed by the enhanced autopiloting system, and the full self-driving capability system, which costs more than the base features of the autopilot system (Ahsan, 2023). Tesla Vision, which consists of eight externally installed cameras around the vehicle provides a 360-degree view of its surroundings, to identify obstacles one might encounter on the road (Dnistran, 2023). Tesla has also removed the traditional buttons and controls on the dashboard and replaced them with a big touchscreen device placed right in the middle of the driver’s and passenger’s seats. The device displays important statistics and statuses of the vehicle's performance (Not a Tesla App Staff, 2024).

 

Tesla’s autopiloting system may seem like a groundbreaking approach to the future of vehicle autonomy and safety, but there have been concerns made about how the heavy reliance on technology may affect a driver’s attention span on the road.

Tesla Vision Technology reinforces vehicle safety and automation by leveraging neural networks and data collected by the external cameras (CARADAS, 2024).  These networks can learn from various patterns and experiences to make more accurate predictions on the road, as they were designed to mimic the functioning of the human brain. The cameras located around the vehicle can detect and process distances of up to 250 metres and 360 degrees around the entire vehicle (Tesla, 2024). It displays the full view of a 3D model Tesla vehicle when it is on the road, oncoming vehicles around you, traffic lights, road hazards, and curbs on the GUI device (Not a Tesla App Staff, 2024).  Autosteering, another key component of Tesla Vision, uses the cameras to help the car stay centred in its lanes, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, and navigate obstacles on the road (Scott, 2023). Additionally, Tesla's autopiloting system uses the cameras to detect and avoid possible collisions by automatically applying the brakes to prevent or mitigate the impact of an accident. Through these integrated technologies, Tesla Vision provides a safer and more autonomous driving experience, demonstrating the potential of artificial intelligence in automotive innovation.

Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system operates across different levels, gradually increasing in vehicle autonomy while still requiring driver supervision. The first level of the FSD system, Autopilot, functions like a standard adaptive cruise control system where the driver adjusts the desired speed, and the car maintains and matches the speed of vehicles ahead (Stern, 2024). It also includes steering assistance to keep the car within lane markers. The second level, known as Enhanced Autopilot, adds navigational capabilities, allowing the vehicle to automatically switch lanes and take exit ramps based on the pre-programmed route (Newell, 2023). The highest level of Full Self-Driving Capability enables the vehicle to navigate streets with minimal driver input, detecting traffic lights and signs, and adjusting accordingly (Tesla, 2024). While each level increases the car's autonomy, drivers must still maintain control. For example, the highest level includes Autosteering, which can detect and respond to traffic situations, but drivers are required to keep both hands on the wheel. Failing to comply results in warnings, followed by the car slowing down and eventually turning off (Voitins, 2024). Drivers can also override the system at any time by braking, steering, or adjusting the cruise control (Cipriani, 2023). Although Tesla's FSD system introduces significant advancements in vehicle autonomy, it remains a driver-assistance system, requiring human oversight for safety and legal compliance.

Despite numerous safety features and technological improvements, there are still several serious issues to be considered in Tesla's FSD autopilot system. According to an article by Aarian Marshall (2024), there have been at least 13 fatal crashes compiled in a federal report involving Tesla vehicles where the drivers were found taking advantage of the system and being complacent by sleeping or using their devices while on the road. These crashes have killed 14 people and caused injuries to 49 individuals following data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Some of these accidents were due to the fact that the Tesla Vision cameras in the vehicle were not calibrated properly which led to the vehicle failing to stop when approaching unknown obstacles, resulting in a fatal accident (Stafford, 2024). This shows that the Full Self Driving system is not perfect and it may lead to doubts about its capabilities.

 

In conclusion, Tesla’s Full Self Driving system shows a lot of technological advancements in the autonomous driving industry as it provides a range of features which help improve a vehicle’s safety and convenience. However, there are still many concerns about how one’s complacency on the road may lead to potential accidents, as proven by the reported crashes. Automation of the system may lead to overreliance, ultimately causing complacency on the road. Even though the technology may seem promising, we must consider the balance between safety, driver responsibility and the current system's limitations before moving forward.

 

 

 

References

Ahsan, O. (2023, June 7). What do the cameras do in a Tesla?. Tesloid USA. https://tesloid.com/2023/06/06/what-do-the-cameras-do-in-a-tesla/

Autopilot. Tesla. (n.d.). https://www.tesla.com/en_AE/autopilot/%3Fredirect%3Dno

Dnistran, I. (2023, March 22). Elon Musk overruled Tesla engineers who said removing radar would be problematic: Report. insideevs. https://insideevs.com/news/658439/elon-musk-overruled-tesla-autopilot-engineers-radar-removal/

The Economic Times. (2023, July 8). Tesla Autopilot: What is it and how does it work? Here’s everything you may want to know  . The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/tesla-autopilot-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work-heres-everything-you-may-want-to-know/articleshow/101601035.cms

Marshall, A. (2024, April 26). Tesla autopilot was uniquely risky-and may still be. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/tesla-autopilot-risky-deaths-crashes-nhtsa-investigation/

Newell, B. (2023, July 21). Which is right for you: Tesla’s autopilot or enhanced autopilot? MobileSyrup. https://mobilesyrup.com/2023/07/18/which-is-right-for-you-tesla-autopilot-or-enhanced-autopilot/

Scott. (2023, March 17). What is Tesla Vision?. Silverstone Leasing. https://www.silverstoneleasing.com/blog/tesla-vision

Stern, P. (2024, March 21). How to use Tesla’s autopilot. How to Use Tesla’s Autopilot | Capital One Auto Navigator. https://www.capitalone.com/cars/learn/finding-the-right-car/how-to-use-teslas-autopilot/3115

Tesla Vision: Tesla self-driving Adas Features. Car ADAS. (2024a, July 1). https://caradas.com/tesla-vision-adas-features/#:~:text=the%20vehicle’s%20surroundings.-,How%20Tesla%20Vision%20Works,experiences%20to%20make%20accurate%20predictions.

Tesla Vision: Tesla self-driving Adas Features. Car ADAS. (2024b, July 1). https://caradas.com/tesla-vision-adas-features/#:~:text=Limitations%20of%20Tesla%20Vision,-Despite%20its%20impressive&text=One%20of%20the%20primary%20concerns,potentially%20compromising%20the%20system’s%20performance.

Voitins, I. (2024, April 8). Everything you need to know about tesla autopilot. Everything You Need To Know About Tesla Autopilot. https://www.evsrepublic.com/blog/principles-of-operation-advantages-and-nuances-of-the-tesla-autopilot

Cipriani, J. (2023, August 31). What is Tesla Autopilot and how does it work?. Pocket. https://www.pocket-lint.com/what-is-tesla-autopilot-features-what-does-it-do/

Autopilot and full self-driving (supervised): Tesla Support. Tesla. (n.d.-a). https://www.tesla.com/support/autopilot

Stafford, E. (2024, July 31). Tesla autopilot crashes linked to overreliance on computer vision, says WSJ. caranddriver. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a61743211/tesla-autopilot-crashes-investigation/

Staff, N. a T. A. (2024, April 18). First look at Tesla’s V12 User Interface, full screen visualizations and New Media Player [updated: Photos and video]. https://www.notateslaapp.com/news/1988/inside-teslas-new-v12-user-interface

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

 Dear Professor Blackstone, I hope this message finds you well. My name is Denzel, and I am currently studying and pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering in the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). I am hoping to be able to provide some insights in this blog as to why I chose this specific course to study and what my goals are for this module. I recently graduated about 2 years ago with a Mechanical Engineering Diploma from Singapore Polytechnic. But if I am being honest with you, studying engineering and being an engineer wasn't exactly what I wanted in the past. If you had asked me back when I was about 18 years old about what exactly I was interested in, I would have said something drastically different, maybe somewhere along the lines of studying communications, design and art as that was I was more interested in back then instead of physics and solving math equations. However, my grades were not good enough to enter the course of my choice after my O levels, which in ...
Read more

Life of an engineering student

 After going through the six quotes provided, I felt like the one by Akbar R Khan really resonated with me as I’m currently a student as well. To start off, it is indeed harder for us students to be taken seriously as we have little to no work experience at all as we mainly focus on simpler and more isolated projects which do not have the same complexities as an actual project in an engineering company. This would deter us from being able to communicate properly as well due to the fact that as a university student, we might not be able to view communication as a very impactful factor in our industry because of the stereotypical thinking that engineering students are bad at communicating as there was barely any considerable emphasis placed on communication. Furthermore, in proper engineering companies and industries, teams are more dynamic and the roles that each individual have are more specific compared to that in terms of the context of a class. Thus, without an exposure to the i...
Read more

Contributions to group project

Updated on 21/10/24  We are researching on h • Explored KERS Benefits and Challenges: • Listed the positive and negative aspects of using KERS in vehicles. • Investigated how KERS systems could potentially be adapted for use in aircraft. • Generated Integration Ideas • Brainstormed potential methods to integrate KERS into the Ampaire EEL’s systems. • Evaluated how KERS could address concerns like fuel efficiency, weight, and performance. Using Google Search Engine • Gathered Technical Details regarding the build and body of the aircraft • Researched articles on the design and layout of the Ampaire EEL aircraft. • Studied the various compartments and components of the aircraft to identify feasible installation points for KERS. • Evaluated the practicality of installing the system into an aircraft system. • Looked into potential limitations of integrating KERS into aircraft systems. • Identified industry-specific challenges such as weight r...
Read more