Autopilot cars have arrived at Tesla, with the company announcing on Wednesday that its Model S 7.0 version will be equipped with an automation software package containing self-driving features.
Following up on its announcement from a year ago, the electric automobile maker said sensors have been added to all Model S vehicles built since September but the algorithms still needed fine tuning and testing, reported
The Verge.
The Model S, though, is not fully automated. Telsa's Autosteer technology keeps the vehicle in its current lane once it is already on the road and maintains speed and distance from the vehicle ahead of it.
Tesla founder Elon Musk said the Autosteer was still a "beta feature."
"We want people to be quite careful (at first)," said Musk.
Telsa said on its
website that the Model S comes with four feedback modules, including cameras, radar, ultrasonics and GPS. It said those systems will offer "real time data feedback" from the Tesla fleet where it is constantly updating and learning.
"Tesla Autopilot relieves drivers of the most tedious and potentially dangerous aspects of road travel," said the company. "We're building Autopilot to give you more confidence behind the wheel, increase your safety on the road, and make highway driving more enjoyable."
"While truly driverless cars are still a few years away, Tesla Autopilot functions like the systems that airplane pilots use when conditions are clear. The driver is still responsible for, and ultimately in control of, the car. What's more, you always have intuitive access to the information your car is using to inform its actions."
Tesla stated that a "traffic-aware cruise control" will allow its autopilot models to steer within a lane, change lanes with the tap of a turn single and manage speed. Digitally-controlled motors, brakes and steering will help drivers avoid accidents, said Tesla.
Wired magazine's Molly McHugh said that while the vehicle is not ready to completely play chauffeur, the driver can easily take back complete control when needed.
"If at any point you grab the wheel, Autopilot will turn off, passing control back to you," said McHugh. "The wheel doesn't have capacitive touch, but it measures torque, so any tiny little movements you make against it, it feels and knows you’re there, and at least sort of responsive."
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