He promised it was coming soon, and it looks like Elon Musk has kept his word: Tesla’s first ‘full self-driving’ software has begun its initial roll-out to customers.
Tesla sent the beta software out this week to a small select group of customers enrolled in the Tesla Early Access Program. The update to the Autopilot system will enable drivers to navigate city streets and highways in ‘self-driving’ mode, although users are still required to keep their hands on the steering wheel and monitor the vehicle’s movements.
Tesla’s software already allows its vehicles to recommend lane changes and slow at traffic lights or stop signs, and while details of what the Full Self-Driving beta offers as far as new features are concerned are still a bit sketchy, it’s likely to be an early version of what Musk has previously referred to as ‘Full Self-Driving feature complete’ system that will allow drivers to make entire journeys using Autopilot.
In a letter to investors, Tesla explained:
[The Autopilot team] has been focused on a fundamental architectural rewrite of our neural networks and control algorithms. This rewrite will allow the remaining driving features to be released
In a tweet on Tuesday evening, Musk announced the launch, but downplayed expectations, saying it ‘will be extremely slow & cautious, as it should’.
Crucially, drivers are still liable for any accidents or damage caused while Autopilot is enabled – Tesla vehicles using the mode have been involved in a number of fatal crashes
