Consumer Reports questioned Tesla about the lack of safeguards regarding testing its FSD Beta 9 software on public roads.
Tesla currently sits atop the throne in the EV segment. The manufacturer is known for creating disruptions and challenging the norms of the industry through its innovations in technology and software. The Autopilot system first got the ball rolling and now comes standard across the range. When engaged on the highway, the feature uses its suite of ultrasonic sensors, camera vision, and a front radar to “see” the surroundings and stay within lanes, slow down, speed up, and switch lanes to overtake. It still requires the driver to be attentive to the road but works well in most cases—some may argue that every crash is a crash too much, and of course, they would be right. Still, the Autopilot sure isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty reliable.
Since its introduction, the software went through a host of significant updates and revisions to include features such as Smart Summon, Navigation on Autopilot, Autopark, and so on. Tesla also planned a public rollout of its ‘Full Self Driving‘ feature back in 2017, but closed-beta tests of its latest software have taken place on public roads only recently. As a result, Musk decided to go forward, and eligible owners can now enroll for the FSD beta software by paying $99 or $199 a month, depending on the feature set.
However, YouTuber ‘AI Addict’ tested his Tesla Model 3 FSD’s navigational abilities, obstacle avoidance, etc., through the streets of Downtown San Francisco. The test revealed a few noteworthy incidents involving the car clipping a bush on the main road and accidentally veering off towards a parked car after taking a left turn. In complex situations, the system abruptly disengaged and returned control to the user. Similar footage from other owners unsurprisingly got the attention of various consortiums and regulatory bodies.
Elon Musk clarified the issue on Twitter, stating, “Beta 9 addresses most known issues, but there will be unknown issues, so please be paranoid, […] Safety is always top priority at Tesla.”
“While drivers may have some awareness of the increased risk that they are assuming, other road users — drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, etc. — are unaware that they are in the presence of a test vehicle and have not consented to take on this risk,” replied Bryan Reimer, Professor of MIT and founder of the Advanced Vehicle Technology (AVT) consortium, in an interview with Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports said that it would soon conduct its own FSD Beta 9 software tests with its in-house team of experts.
As they say — with great power comes great responsibility. The story will be updated once further information arises.
