Tesla Autopilot Feature Is Not Being Used Appropriately

Tesla's autopilot feature differs from autonomous driving, says CEO Musk.

Tesla’s latest feature is being misused. Enthusiastic Tesla users enjoyed on October 14, 2015, when the company offered the opportunity to its customers to utilize an automatic driving feature in its Model S powered cars. The wireless update of automobiles to Tesla’s application Version 7.0, which lets appropriately equipped vehicles perform a number of functions, such as switching of lanes, management of speed on its own, and steering of cars, is the move that excited the fans.

The feature’s autonomous speed management capability is precisely the type of courageous initiative that makes majority of automaker’s fans so much thrilled about Tesla. In fact, some of the company’s vehicle owners immediately started testing the limits of the driver-friendly feature. They completely took their hands off the steering and observed how far the vehicle could operate itself down suburban roads, freeways, and country lanes.

This troubled them as they faced perilous scenarios and near mishaps, as could be witnessed in videos captured by motorists (while driving) and uploaded on YouTube, a Model S user conceded that he or she overlooked alerts  until the car  turned sharply over the double-yellow separating lines towards a nearing automobile. He wrote on the video sharing platform, “Had I not reacted quickly to jerk the steering wheel in the opposite direction, a devastating head-on collision would have occurred.”

Tesla news affirmed that the automaker’s Autopilot feature, which utilizes a set of 12 long-range ultrasonic sensors, a front looking camera and forward radar. Yet Mr. Musk has recurrently cautioned that Autopilot is not identical with that of completely self-directed driving.

Tesla’s official, Khobi Brooklyn, stated in an email, “Tesla is very clear with what we’re building, features to assist the driver on the road, Similar to the autopilot function in airplanes, drivers need to maintain control and responsibility of their vehicle while enjoying the convenience of Autopilot in Model S.”

Khobi stated that clients were told about the tool's functions through release notes that are offered with every addition, an update to emails and owner’s manual. Motorists are asked to keep their hands on their steering wheels.

However, not all motorists are getting a clarified message. Tesla Motors news exclaimed that an official at the Princeton University, Alain Kornhauser, stated, “I think it’s wonderful that Tesla has gone out there with this technology, but they might have hyped Autopilot a little bit too much.” 

Tesla news today disclosed that regulatory bodies and vehicle makers have not yet described the finest way to alert motorists to start controlling the automobile again. It could be assumed that with the passage of time, driver’s concerns should be addressed. People have misunderstood the feature for a fully self-controlled system, which is not the case.