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The Top 10 Benefits of a Self-driving Tesla
Tesla Autopilot is an advanced driver assistance system that offers Level 2 vehicle automation. This advanced system was first introduced in September 2014. Its features include autosteer, autopark, and traffic-aware cruise control. The latest update to the self-driving Tesla car is the introduction of Full Self-Driving Software (FSD), which gives Tesla vehicles limited ability to navigate autonomously.
The Full Self-Driving Software can be purchased for $10,000. It includes features like navigating on autopilot (Beta), auto lane change, autopark, summon, smart summon, and traffic and stop sign signal (Beta).
All the new Tesla models built after 2016 come with the standard autopilot feature. For Tesla cars that do not have autopilot, one can purchase either the autopilot or the FSD software.
If your vehicle does not have an autopilot but is equipped with the required hardware, you get the autopilot software retrofitted. It is believed that Tesla’s self-driving cars will play a significant role in improving transportation safety and building a sustainable future. Autonomous Tesla vehicles can lower the cost of transportation and improve safety.
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Self-driving Teslas have several advantages and features that are an improvement over manual cars. Although these features do not make Tesla cars completely autonomous, they have the potential to become more capable over time. Here are the top ten advantages of a self-driving Tesla:
- Tesla vehicles have Cruise control:
The traffic-aware cruise control feature matches the speed of your Tesla vehicle to that of the surrounding traffic. But you should always remember that it is your responsibility to stay alert, keep your hands on the steering wheel, and control your car. Many features of the Autopilot mode can be disabled automatically, and you must go to the Settings menu and enable Autopilot from the Controls menu. Every time you enable autopilot, which activates the Tesla model 3 cruise control feature, there is a visual reminder on the display screen reading “keep your hands on the wheel.” To enable the traffic-aware cruise control feature on Model S and Model X, pull down once on the cruise control stalk on the left of the steering column. On Tesla model 3, cruise control can be enabled by pulling down once on the gear selector stalk on the right of the steering column. The same applies to model Y
- Autosteer: This feature assists with steering within a marked lane and uses the traffic-aware cruise control feature. When you enable autosteer, a steering wheel icon appears next to the speedometer. While using autosteer, you must always keep your hands on the steering wheel to avoid accidents and unnecessary repair costs. Several visual and audio reminders are in place to ensure that your hands are on the wheel. If you ignore them, you will be locked out of using autopilot for the entire duration of that particular trip.
- Navigate on Autopilot (Beta): This is a part of the new FSD software. This feature allows you to get to your destination more quickly by actively guiding your car from on-ramp to off-ramp, suggesting and making lane changes, navigating interchanges on highways, and making exits. It is designed to find and follow the most efficient path to your destination, especially on highways. To enable this feature, you just need to touch Controls > Autopilot > Autosteer > Navigate on Autopilot. This feature requires you to download the latest version of navigation maps on WiFi and complete the camera calibration. You have the option to activate Autopilot by pressing the Navigate on Autopilot button on the Navigation Turn List for every route on which Autopilot is available.
- Auto Lane Change: This feature allows automatic lane changes on certain roads to provide the driver with a “seamless” driving experience. To enable this feature, you must go to Settings and select Auto Lane Changes under the Autopilot Controls menu. This gives cars the ability to make truly autonomous decisions. The driver can cancel the automated lane change by applying brakes, using the turn-signal stalk, or holding the steering wheel in place.
- Autopark: This feature detects parallel parking locations when driving below 15 miles per hour and perpendicular parking locations when driving below 10 miles per hour. If it detects a parking spot, a grey ‘P’ icon will appear on the left or right of your instrument panel. You can enable Autopark by pressing the brake and shifting the gear into Reverse. A Start Autopark option will appear on your touchscreen, and you can enable this feature by releasing the brake and wheel. Autopark will control your car's speed, gear, and steering angle and maneuver your car in the parking space. However, you must be alert and monitor the cameras to look for potential obstacles. The car will let you know when the Autopark is complete and shift into Park. You can disable Autopark by taking control of the steering wheel at any time.
- Summon: This feature offers added convenience to Tesla owners. If your car is parked in a crowded garage or a narrow space, you can simply summon your car back to you. But you cannot summon your car if it is more than 39 feet away. This feature can be enabled by pressing the center of the Tesla key fob for 3 seconds. The frunk (front trunk) and trunk buttons are directional controls to move the vehicle forward or backward. This feature can also be integrated with HomeLink, which will open your garage door to pull your Tesla vehicle out of the garage.
- Smart Summon: In 2019, Tesla updated Summon to Smart Summon as a part of its new FSD software. Unlike Summon, Smart Summon is not restricted to just parking spots or a driveway. Instead, it can navigate the entire parking lot. It is designed to maneuver its way back to you by navigating through obstacles.
This does not mean that you are not responsible for your car. You must always monitor it, and the car should always be in your sight. You must be within 200 feet of your car to use this feature. Open the Tesla app on your mobile phone and select the Smart Summon icon. Then hold the Come To Me button to activate this feature.
- Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control (Beta): This system identifies the traffic lights and automatically slows your car to a stop. When this feature is enabled, the driving visualization shows upcoming stop signs, traffic lights, and road markings where you may need to stop. The vehicle will slow down even when the traffic light is green—you can simply pull out of autopilot or tap the accelerator pedal to proceed.
- Active Safety Features
Tesla’s Autopilot and self-driving features have made Tesla cars 40% safer to drive. These features have the potential to reduce car wrecks and road accidents. Tesla cars manufactured after September 2014 come with standard safety features that provide even more protection against accidents. These features are made possible through Tesla’s Autopilot hardware and software. The features include:
- Automatic Emergency Braking: Applies brakes based on detecting cars and other obstacles.
- Forward Collision Warning: Warns the driver of any potential collisions with any slower-moving or stationary cars.
- Side Collision Warning: Warns of potential collisions with any obstacles alongside the car.
- Obstacle Aware Acceleration: Detects any obstacle in front of your car while driving at low speeds and automatically reduces acceleration.
- Blind Spot Monitoring: Warns the driver if any car or obstacle changes lanes.
- Lane Departure Avoidance: Corrective steering is applied to keep your car in the intended lane.
- Emergency Lane Departure Avoidance: Detects if your car is deflecting from its lane and steers it back into the driving lane to prevent collisions.
10. Processing power and sensor coverage: The new Tesla vehicles are equipped with eight external cameras, which provide 360-degree visibility around the car with up to 250 meters of range. There are also 12 ultrasonic sensors that detect hard and soft objects within the vicinity of the Tesla vehicle. Model S and Model X are equipped with radar that provides additional data about the world, seeing through fog, dust, heavy rain, and even the car ahead. The new hardware system has the power to process 40 times the data compared to Tesla’s previous version. This feature simultaneously allows sight in every direction, providing a view that the driver alone cannot get.
These new features provide unprecedented benefits to the driver. With the introduction of the FSD features, Tesla has become one of the safest vehicles in the world. However, these updates do not provide your Tesla full autonomy and require active driver supervision and control. Full autonomy is still a long way for Tesla - depending on the feedback of its beta features, the satisfaction and experience of Tesla drivers with these new features, and regulatory approvals by legislators.
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