I lastly received an opportunity to check out Tesla Full Self-Driving (supervised) v12.5 myself, and my first impression is that the system drives extra naturally, however it’s nonetheless harmful.
Vigilance is paramount.
Yesterday, I lastly acquired a software program replace on my Tesla Mannequin 3 that learn ‘v12.5’ (12.5.2.1, to be precise).
I had been ready for it for some time. You see, name me naive, however when Tesla CEO Elon Musk mentioned final yr that FSD updates on HW4 (newer Tesla automobiles) would lag about 6 months behind HW3 (older Tesla automobiles), I believed him:
It made sense. He promised unsupervised self-driving on hundreds of thousands of HW3 automobiles for years. It is smart that Tesla focuses on delivering on the promise for these older automobiles with much less computing energy earlier than beginning to make the most of the upper computing energy on newer HW4 automobiles.
Nevertheless, that didn’t occur.
Earlier this yr, Musk promised important enhancements to FSD rolling each two weeks:
However I received FSD v12.3.6 on HW3 Tesla Mannequin 3 on the time and didn’t obtain any extra FSD replace for six months.
As a substitute, Musk admitted that Tesla now must optimize its FSD code to work on older HW3 automobiles, and HW4 automobiles are getting extra updates sooner – signaling Tesla is reaching the bounds of the {hardware} on older automobiles regardless of guarantees made.
Whereas this case has vastly cut back my hopes of Tesla ever delivering on its promise of reaching self-driving on hundreds of thousands of automobiles bought since 2016, I used to be nonetheless excited to see this within the launch notes on my automotive after an replace this week:
Yesterday, I needed to drive from Shawinigan to Trois-Rivieres (25 miles) and again. It was a very good alternative to check out the system on each floor streets and highways.
My first impression is that there are important enhancements in driving consolation. It drives far more naturally; the auto velocity mode function helps loads. It drives at a velocity that is smart for the highway quite than sticking to the velocity limits plus or minus what you inform it.
The brand new driver monitoring system, which is vision-based quite than sending alerts asking you to tug on the wheels although you might be holding it, additionally helps make the system really feel extra pure.
Now, when you don’t look forward to the highway for a number of seconds, you get an alert on the display to concentrate to the highway, which matches away when you deliver your consideration again to it or give inputs to the steering wheel.
These had been the primary modifications. I didn’t see a major enchancment in efficiency, however the system is no less than extra gratifying to make use of now. It makes utilizing Tesla FSD much less like a job and extra like a function, which is a welcomed change after greater than two years of “FSD Beta” and now “Supervised FSD”.
I needed to disengage the system as I used to be approaching my vacation spot as a result of the automotive insisted on going into the best lane after I wanted to be on the left to cease. This was a minor annoyance, however a disengagement nonetheless.
On the way in which again, the automotive slowed down from my set velocity on the freeway for seemingly no purpose. It’s a widespread downside with Tesla FSD that I had in nearly each iteration of the system. it may be harmful on highways, however this time, it solely slowed down by about 5-8 km/h and went again to the set velocity in a number of seconds with out having to disengage.
Nevertheless, shortly after, I had a extra important situation that resulted in a essential disengagement.
I needed to make a left flip right here:
A automotive was coming from the left, however it was fairly far and never coming quick. I might have achieved the flip with out hesitation, however I wasn’t certain if FSD, which is usually on the cautious facet in these turns, would or if it could look ahead to the automotive to go.
It determined to go, however it was nearly as if it modified its thoughts a 3rd of the way in which into the flip because it stopped, or as a minimum decelerated vastly into the flip; it’s laborious to inform trigger I needed to react quick.
The entrance of the automotive was already in the way in which, so I needed to take over and full the flip sooner to ensure the upcoming automotive didn’t crash into me.
Up till that time, I used to be fairly impressed by FSD v12.5. It’s a very good reminder that because the tech improves and feels higher, particularly extra pure like this replace, it’s tremendous essential to stay hyper-vigilant. The smoothness of this replace can induce overconfidence, however it’s nonetheless vulnerable to errors, as I used to be rapidly reminded.
Electrek’s Take
Whereas I’m impressed and I believe it is a crucial step as FSD is now beginning to really feel like an precise function quite than simply homework for Tesla clients to coach a system that Tesla bought to us years in the past, I nonetheless discover it laborious to see a path from this to unsupervised self-driving, particularly on HW3 automobiles.
Clearly, this was simply my first drive, and I must spend a bit extra time with the system for a full overview, however I had two disengagements, together with a essential one, in about 50 miles. We’re nonetheless very removed from unsupervised.
My foremost concern is that because the system feels higher, like with this replace, extra individuals will begin getting complacent with it, which may result in extra accidents. I hope that Tesla’s new driver monitoring system will counter that potential complacency.
What do you suppose? Tell us within the remark part under.
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