Model S autopilot car from Tesla Motors would now be able to steer and park themselves under certain conditions. However the car maker advised drivers not to let their hands off the steering wheel.
The new Model S autopilot car from Tesla was unveiled on Thursday.
Tesla said that the consumers in the US would be able to avail the features of the Model S autopilot car which were designed for cars built after September 2014. However European and Asian owners would need to wait for another week to get their hands on the new car.
Tesla will provide the features through an over-the-air upgrade.
The company CEO Elon Musk recommended that drivers should not attempt full hands off driving and that the autopilot functionality was in beta mode.
"We're being especially cautious at this stage so we're advising drivers to keep their hands on the wheel just in case. Over time there will not be a need to have your hands on the wheel," Musk told reporters at the company's Silicon Valley headquarters.
In case anyone tries hands free driving, a message would flash on the dash board that would say "hold steering wheel".
An audio alert will come on in more difficult navigating conditions and ultimately the car would come to a halt if the audio warning is also unheard or ignored, Tesla said.
“For drivers, We're very clearly saying this is not a case of abdicating responsibility, that will come at some point in the future but ... this is still early days," Musk said.
Instructions to owners say "autosteer is a hands-on feature. You must keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times."
Tesla, the U.S. pioneer in luxury electric cars charged by batteries, had earlier this month unveiled its Model X SUV. While other traditional car makers have been slow to develop and adapt to the self driving revolution, Tesla’s expertise in software has made it a leader in self-driving features.
Within three years, pending regulatory approvals which can take more time, cars will be able to drive "from your driveway to work without you touching anything," Musk estimated.
He said regulators would need data showing that self-driving cars work.
The autopilot system would be constantly improves and become more reliable by the Teslas that are already on the road, he said.
"The whole Tesla fleet acts like a network. When one car learns something they all learn it. As ... more people enable autopilot, the information about how to drive is uploaded to the network. Each driver is effectively an expert trainer in how the autopilot should work," He added.
The owners of Model S will be offered the choice to upgrade over-the-air version 7 update following which the owners would be able to steer lane changing on highways automatically, automatic parallel parking and upgraded side collision avoidance.
(Source:www.theguardian.com & www.forbes.com)
The new Model S autopilot car from Tesla was unveiled on Thursday.
Tesla said that the consumers in the US would be able to avail the features of the Model S autopilot car which were designed for cars built after September 2014. However European and Asian owners would need to wait for another week to get their hands on the new car.
Tesla will provide the features through an over-the-air upgrade.
The company CEO Elon Musk recommended that drivers should not attempt full hands off driving and that the autopilot functionality was in beta mode.
"We're being especially cautious at this stage so we're advising drivers to keep their hands on the wheel just in case. Over time there will not be a need to have your hands on the wheel," Musk told reporters at the company's Silicon Valley headquarters.
In case anyone tries hands free driving, a message would flash on the dash board that would say "hold steering wheel".
An audio alert will come on in more difficult navigating conditions and ultimately the car would come to a halt if the audio warning is also unheard or ignored, Tesla said.
“For drivers, We're very clearly saying this is not a case of abdicating responsibility, that will come at some point in the future but ... this is still early days," Musk said.
Instructions to owners say "autosteer is a hands-on feature. You must keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times."
Tesla, the U.S. pioneer in luxury electric cars charged by batteries, had earlier this month unveiled its Model X SUV. While other traditional car makers have been slow to develop and adapt to the self driving revolution, Tesla’s expertise in software has made it a leader in self-driving features.
Within three years, pending regulatory approvals which can take more time, cars will be able to drive "from your driveway to work without you touching anything," Musk estimated.
He said regulators would need data showing that self-driving cars work.
The autopilot system would be constantly improves and become more reliable by the Teslas that are already on the road, he said.
"The whole Tesla fleet acts like a network. When one car learns something they all learn it. As ... more people enable autopilot, the information about how to drive is uploaded to the network. Each driver is effectively an expert trainer in how the autopilot should work," He added.
The owners of Model S will be offered the choice to upgrade over-the-air version 7 update following which the owners would be able to steer lane changing on highways automatically, automatic parallel parking and upgraded side collision avoidance.
(Source:www.theguardian.com & www.forbes.com)
