Tesla Autopilot Explained

 

Firstly let’s talk about the Advanced Sensor Coverage in every Tesla:-

There are 8 surround cameras that provide 360 degrees of visibility around the car at up to 250 meters of range. Also, there are 12 updated ultrasonic sensos that complements the vision cameras sees, allowing for detection of both hard and soft objects nearly twice the distance of the prior system. A forward-facing radar with enhanced processing provides additional data about the world on a wavelength that is able to see through heavy rain, fog, dust and even the car ahead.

Now, LiDAR have the range up-to 500 meters which is more than the cameras can see that Elon Musk gives more importance to.

Let’s understand the cameras on tesla in detail

There are three cameras mounted behind the windshield, at the back of rear-view mirror, that provide broad visibility in front of the car, and focused, also helps in long-ranged detection of distant objects.

1^st Camera is Wide ranged.

The camera has the 120 degree of fisheye lens that capture traffic lights, obstacles at close range. Particularly useful in urban, low speed manoeuvring.

2^nd is Main Camera that covers a broad spectrum of use cases that is trained to take action according to the data.

3^rd is Narrow Camera.

It provides a focused, long-ranged view of distant features. It is also pretty useful in high speed operation.

Forward Looking Side Cameras

These cameras cover 90 degree redundant forward looking side cameras look for cars that unexpectedly enters your lane on the highway and also provide with the additional safety when entering intersection with limited visibility.

Rearward Looking side Cameras

These cameras monitor rear blind spots on both the sides of the car which is important for safety changing lanes and merging into traffic.

Rear View Camera

This camera is not just for backing up safely, but it is now a contributing member of the Autopilot hardware suite with enhanced optics. The rear view camera is useful when performing complex parking maneuvers.

Radar

This radar is on the front of the car, front-grill. With a wavelength that passes through fog, dust, rain, snow and under cars, radar plays an essential role in detecting and responding to forward objects.

Ultrasonic Sensors

It is effectively double range with improved sensitivity using uniquely coded signals. These sensors are useful for detecting nearby cars, especially when they enter your lane and provide guidance when parking the car.

Processing Power Increased up-to 40x

A new onboard computer is used to make sense out of all the data that is fed by the different cameras and radar. The computer contains over 40 times the computing power than the previous generation, runs the new Tesla-developed neural net for vision, sonar and radar processing software. Together this system provides a view of the world that a driver alone cannot access, seeing in every direction simultaneously, so this makes the car with sensors and cameras that goes beyond the human senses.

Autopilot

Autopilot advanced safety and convenience features are designed to assist you with the most burdensome parts of driving. Autopilot introduces new features and improves existing functionally to make your Tesla safer and more capable over time.

Autopilot enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane. While it can detect snow, rain, dust and fog, it makes the car at level-3 automation.

(To understand the detailed automation checkout the previous blog on The five Level of Automation in cars)

Current Autopilot features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous. The people that misunderstood that the car can drive on its own has met with the accident as it is in the news. The driver is at the backseat chilling and let the car drive on its own.

Navigate on Autopilot

Navigation on the Autopilot suggests lane changes to optimize your route and makes adjustments so you don’t get stuck behind slow cars or trucks. When it is activated it will also automatically steer your vehicle toward highway interchanges and exits based on your destinations.

Autosteer+

With the help of new Tesla’s vision cameras, sensors and computing power, the Tesla car will navigate tighter on more complex roads.

Smart Summon

With the smart summon, your car will navigates its way through complex environments and parking spaces, driving around the objects to come and find you in the parking lot.

Full-Self Driving Capability

All new Tesla cars will have the hardware needed in the future for the full self-driving in almost all circumstances. The system is designed to be able to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver’s seat.

All you will be needing is to get in and tell the car where to go. The car will take a look at your calendar and take you there as the assumed destination, if you don’t say anything. It will automatically figure out the optimal route, navigating urban streets, complex interactions and freeways.

When you will reach at the destination, simply step out and the car will automatically go into park seek mode, search for a spot and will park itself. A tap on your phone will summon it back.

 

Now, Interesting news came on 7^th May, 2021 about Tesla.

The news was on Whatever Tesla CEO Elon Musk says publicly about the company’s progress on a fully autonomous driving systems doesn’t match up with “engineering reality”, according to a memo that summarizes a meeting between California regulators and employees at the automaker.

Tesla vehicles are far from reaching that level of autonomy, a fact confirmed by statements made by the company’s director of Autopilot software CJ Moore to California regulators, the memo shows.

If you want to read whole news here is the link:-

Click Here

Conclusion

Its creating so much of chaos and confusion among people and automakers regarding self-driving cars. It requires more time than you think, needs patience and advancement in AI to achieve it.

If what Elon Musk says is true than it is going to be an awesome car and one of its kind among other production vehicles.