Tesla CEO and co-founder Elon Musk has flagged the next steps to be rolled out to Tesla electric vehicles with the Full Self Driving (FSD) package.
With Australian Tesla electric car drivers receiving the latest update (v2020.12.11.1) enabling FSD Visualisation, and Tesla vehicles with FSD in the US now able to automatically stop at traffic lights and stop signs, Musk says the next big step is to roll out turning on busy city intersections.
Turns on city street intersections is the big one
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 7, 2020
This would, of course, also mean that Tesla cars would be able allowed to initiate driving again once a traffic light had turned green.
Currently, Musk says that Tesla cars with FSD are technically capable of this already, but that for now Tesla has only rolled out the ability to detect and stop at traffic lights and stop signs.
Instead, Tesla will collect data from drivers as they move through intersections, effectively labelling what is a reasonably complex manouevre to improve FSD algorithms.
Australian Tesla drivers following Musk on Twitter welcomed the announcement, although it was also noted that different algorithms will be required in different regions depending on various road rules.
For example, in California, a left turn on red light is permitted at any intersection according to managers of the Third Row Tesla podcast Twitter account. However, in certain states in Australia, a left turn on red is not permitted unless a sign exists at the intersection that says otherwise. Let’s not even get started on Melbourne’s infamous “hook turn”.
Don’t worry about that. In california, you can do that at any intersection.
— Third Row Tesla Podcast (@thirdrowtesla) May 7, 2020
In addition to turning at city intersections, Musk commented that roundabouts were in themselves a fairly simple process, but that drivers using them was another matter entirely.
“Roundabouts no problem, but dodging distracted human drivers very tricky!” he responded to a Tesla fan.
Roundabouts no problem, but dodging distracted human drivers very tricky!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 7, 2020
There is no timeline as yet on when either of these would be rolled out, although it is Musk’s hope that a full-featured FSD package will be functional in time for late 2021, when he expects Tesla’s planned autonomous “robotaxi” fleet could be operational – presumably in the US to start with, and dependent on regulatory approval.
Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology and has been writing about electric vehicles for two years. She has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum.
