There’s a few versions of this and several generations with different capability. […]
This raises its own issues but is the nature of the “move fast and break things” ethos of tech today. While it has its benefits; is it suitable for vehicles, particularly their safety systems? It isn’t clear to me, as it is a double-edged sword.
As a Level 2 system, the Tesla is not capable of injuring or killing someone. The driver is responsible for that.
But I’d ask- if a Tesla saw YOUR loved one in the road, and it would have reacted but it wasn’t in FSD mode and the human driver reacted too slowly, how would you feel about that? I say this not to be contrarian, but because we really are approaching the point where the car has better situational awareness than the human.
I would be angry that such a modern car with any form of self driving doesn’t have emergency braking. Though, that would require additional sensors…
I’d also be angry that L2 systems were allowed in that environment in the first place, but as you say it is ultimately the drivers fault.
Like cruise control having minimum speeds that generally prevent it being used in town; I would hope that the manufacturer would make it difficult to use L2 outside of motorway driving. This doesn’t prevent people bypassing it but means someone doing so was trying to do something they shouldn’t.
With a connected vehicle, being able to limit L2 use outside of motorway should be straightforward.
Then it becomes akin to disabling traction control or adaptive cruise control and having an accident that could be prevented. The tools are there, the default is on, a driver deliberately disabled it. The manufacturer did as much as they reasonably could.
In the example above, if the car didn’t have the self driving package because the guy couldn’t afford it, wouldn’t you prefer that a decent but better than human self driving system was on the car?
I would prefer they had no self driving rather than be under the mistaken impression the car could drive for them in the current configuration. The limitations of self driving (in any car) are often not clear to a lot of people and can vary greatly. I feel this is where accidents are most likely - in the stage between fully manual and fully autonomous.
If Tesla offer a half-way for less money would you not expect the consumer to take the cheapest option? If they have an accident it is more likely someone else is injured, so why pay more to improve the self driving when it doesn’t affect them?
If you can use cameras and make a system that costs the manufacturer $3000/car, and it’s 50 times safer than a human, or use LiDAR and cost the manufacturer $10,000/car, and it’s 100 times safer than a human, which is safer?
The answer is the cameras, because it will be on more cars, thus deliver more overall safety.
I agree an improvement is better than none, but I’m not sure your conclusion can be made so easily? Tesla is the only company I know steadfastly refusing to use any other sensor types and the only reason I see is price.
Thinking about it, drum brakes are cheaper than disc brakes… (said with tongue-firmly-in-cheek)
Another concern is that any Tesla incidents, however rare, could do huge damage to people’s perception of self driving. People mightn’t know there is a difference between Tesla and other manufacturer’s autonomous driving ability.
For many people Tesla is self-driving cars, if a Tesla has an accident in L2 even though this is the driver’s fault the headlines will be “Tesla autopilot hits school child” not “Driver inappropriately uses limited motorway assistance mode of car in small town hitting school child”
What about the impact on the industry? If Tesla is much cheaper than LIDAR-equipped vehicles will this kill a better/safer product a-la betamax?
IMHO safety shouldn’t take a lower priority to price/CEO demands. Consumers often don’t know and frankly shouldn’t need to know the details of these systems.
Do you pick your airline based on the plane they fly and it’s safety record or the price of the ticket, being confident all aviation is held to rigorous safety standards?
As has been seen recently with a certain submarine, safety measures should not be taken lightly.
This raises its own issues but is the nature of the “move fast and break things” ethos of tech today. While it has its benefits; is it suitable for vehicles, particularly their safety systems? It isn’t clear to me, as it is a double-edged sword.
I would be angry that such a modern car with any form of self driving doesn’t have emergency braking. Though, that would require additional sensors…
I’d also be angry that L2 systems were allowed in that environment in the first place, but as you say it is ultimately the drivers fault.
Like cruise control having minimum speeds that generally prevent it being used in town; I would hope that the manufacturer would make it difficult to use L2 outside of motorway driving. This doesn’t prevent people bypassing it but means someone doing so was trying to do something they shouldn’t.
With a connected vehicle, being able to limit L2 use outside of motorway should be straightforward.
Then it becomes akin to disabling traction control or adaptive cruise control and having an accident that could be prevented. The tools are there, the default is on, a driver deliberately disabled it. The manufacturer did as much as they reasonably could.
I would prefer they had no self driving rather than be under the mistaken impression the car could drive for them in the current configuration. The limitations of self driving (in any car) are often not clear to a lot of people and can vary greatly. I feel this is where accidents are most likely - in the stage between fully manual and fully autonomous.
If Tesla offer a half-way for less money would you not expect the consumer to take the cheapest option? If they have an accident it is more likely someone else is injured, so why pay more to improve the self driving when it doesn’t affect them?
I agree an improvement is better than none, but I’m not sure your conclusion can be made so easily? Tesla is the only company I know steadfastly refusing to use any other sensor types and the only reason I see is price.
Thinking about it, drum brakes are cheaper than disc brakes… (said with tongue-firmly-in-cheek)
Another concern is that any Tesla incidents, however rare, could do huge damage to people’s perception of self driving. People mightn’t know there is a difference between Tesla and other manufacturer’s autonomous driving ability.
For many people Tesla is self-driving cars, if a Tesla has an accident in L2 even though this is the driver’s fault the headlines will be “Tesla autopilot hits school child” not “Driver inappropriately uses limited motorway assistance mode of car in small town hitting school child”
What about the impact on the industry? If Tesla is much cheaper than LIDAR-equipped vehicles will this kill a better/safer product a-la betamax?
IMHO safety shouldn’t take a lower priority to price/CEO demands. Consumers often don’t know and frankly shouldn’t need to know the details of these systems.
Do you pick your airline based on the plane they fly and it’s safety record or the price of the ticket, being confident all aviation is held to rigorous safety standards?
As has been seen recently with a certain submarine, safety measures should not be taken lightly.