Tesla has just announced the latest update to its version 7.0 software of the Model S and Model X and the biggest and most important feature of this update will now allow autonomous driving for both models. The technology is called “Autopilot,“ and as of this writing, it should already be available to tens of thousands of Model S units in the U.S. through over-the-air updates on the car’s software system.
The Autopilot technology works by using a handful of data sources, including ultrasonic sensors placed around the vehicle, a forward-facing camera with image recognition capability, a 360-degree ultrasonic sonar that can see through various weather conditions, and a high-precision digital mapping system. These sources work hand-in-hand to determine the car’s position and navigational needs relative to its environment.
According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, drivers who enable the Autopilot system on their cars would be able to steer down the highway automatically, as well as change lanes and adjust the car’s speed in response to certain traffic conditions. It also has the capacity to scan for available parking spaces and park itself.
As good as all of that sounds, the system isn’t entirely autonomous, at least not yet. Drivers are still encouraged to exercise a little bit of caution when using the system since it’s still a “public beta” version. In other words, Tesla still needs to work out a lot of kinks in the system before it can advise drivers to use it liberally.
Unfortunately, not all models will have access to the Autopilot system. Cars built without the required sensors, for example, will not be able to have the system retro-fitted because it would cost a lot of time and money. Then there’s the part about which regions will allow for the system to be used above-board. North America will get it, although the cloud update will likely take a few days to finish and using it will require a one-time charge of $2,500.
Owners in Europe and Asia, though, are out of luck for the time being. The company is still working on receiving regulatory approval to install the patch in those regions, although Tesla says that it could be secured within a few days.
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