By akademiotoelektronik, 24/09/2022

Tesla: Autonomous car, robots and humanoids, does Musk go too far?

(Scholarship holder.com)-Teslamettra the accent in 2022 and 2023 on driving software for 100% autonomous vehicles and a humanoid project, "optimus", in order to possibly overcome the lack of labor in the world,said its managing director Elon Musk.

"I would be shocked if we did not succeed in a complete autonomous driving safer than the human this year," said Elon Musk this week, predicting that the full autonomous driving would become "the most important source of profitability for Tesla"..."C'est incroyablement positif d'un point de vue financier", a-t-il ajouté, affirmant que les futurs taxis autonomes multiplieraient par cinq l'utilité d'un véhicule, les propriétaires privés pouvant s'en défaire pour cette activité lorsqu'ils n'en ont pas l'usage par ailleurs...

Tesla drivers bought autonomous driving packs at 12.000 dollars (10.758.47 euros) in the hope of full autonomy in the future, and 60.000 others test the latest software in date of autonomous driving.

"I like the fact that they push the limits, but I think they are too aggressive," said Craig Irwin, analyst at Roth Capital Partners...

Legislation in question

Another obstacle on the path of complete autonomy, that of the regulations for future fleets of Robotaxis in particular...

Tesla uses the controversial technique of cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) for its cars, standing out from rivals like Waymo which use the radar and the Lidar, another method of remote sensing.According to Philip Koopman, professor at Carnegie Mellon University who worked on the safety of autonomous vehicles, "without a human driver to manage security in the face of situations that AI has not yet learned, it is very difficult to'Ensure the safety of a fully automated vehicle ".

Last December, Tesla recalled more than 475.000 electric vehicles following reversing and trunk problems that increase the risk of accident...

La directrice du National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Conseil national américain de la sécurité des transports, Jennifer Homendy, a estimé dernièrement que le constructeur de véhicules électriques Tesla devait corriger les déficiences de sécurité avant de déployer la mise à jour de son système d'aide à la conduite autonome.To defuse criticism, Elon Musk, the boss of the Californian manufacturer who intended to take speed automobile manufacturers on the crucial subject of autonomous driving, explained that motorists would soon be able to ask for an improved version of the ability 'Full self-Driving ', which would result in "fully autonomous driving".

The update must concretely allow the owners of Tesla vehicles to take advantage of an assisted driving in the city, while the functionality was so far limited to the highways...The boss of the NTSB indicated that basic security problems should previously be resolved before an extension to cities and other rural areas.

Not that easy ?

Inquiète de la manière dont le software de Tesla est testé sur les routes, Homendy a aussi jugé "trompeuse et irresponsable" l'expression de "conduite entièrement autonome".According to her, the expression would have clearly deceived many people and would have led to "misuse"...

However, Tesla warns the drivers that they "must remain attentive and keep their hands on the steering wheel".Musk also assures that the group will only grant access to its future 'autonomous' system that customers demonstrating seven days of good behavior while driving.The group thus plans to measure the behavior of customers wishing to obtain the improved version of the system.Access will however be blocked for drivers with inappropriate behavior...

Musk Make Low profile...

Faced with these criticisms, Elon Musk took his fans on the verge last month by admitting on Twitter that the autonomous driving system (FSD) of Tesla was not..."not great" (...) "But the Autopilot/AI team is mobilizing to improve it as quickly as possible".In response to this tweet, to say the least...Disciting, the billionaire was later delighted with the recent improvements to the autonomous pilot system: "I have just driven on FSD Beta 9.3 Pasadena in Lax (Editor's note: Los Angeles Airport).Very improved! "(...) "It is incredible according to most standards, but we aim for 1000% safer than the average human driver".

Under close surveillance

The American Safety Agency had already exhorted regulators several times to investigate the limits of the Tesla automatic pilot and the potential risks for security following a series of accidents involving the technology developed by the Californian group.

"The past has shown that the emphasis was on innovation rather than security and I hope we are at a reversal point," Jennifer Homendy told Reuters.According to her, there is "no comparison" to be made between the Tesla automatic driver and the more rigorous automatic pilot systems used in aviation for example which involve trained pilots, rules concerning fatigue and testsDrug and alcohol screening.

Tesla introduced the semi-autonomous driving system in 2015...

According to official documents, most of the ten accidents that have taken place in the past five years and which have been surveyed have occurred after nightfall or in conditions creating limited visibility.This raises questions about automatic pilot capacities to react appropriately in difficult driving conditions, especially at dusk "between dogs and wolves"...

Since 2016, American automotive security regulators have sent no less than 33 special teams to investigate accidents involving several deaths in which advanced driving aid systems were pointed out.

Advanced cameras and software

Other car manufacturers and autonomous driving companies not only use cameras, but also more expensive equipment, including a radar and a Lidar, in their vehicles...

Wanting to be reassuring, Elon Musk explained that Tesla with eight cameras would be much safer than human drivers.But, according to experts, cameras technology is affected by the darkness and dazzling of the setting sun, as well as by unfavorable weather conditions such as heavy rains, snow and fog, according to experts.

During the first fatal accident known in the United States involving the semi-autonomous driving technology of Tesla, which occurred in 2016 in Florida, the company said that the driver and the automatic pilot had not seen the "sidewhite of a semi-trailer against a very lit sky ".Instead of braking, the Tesla collided with the truck...During the development of autopilot, employees or subcontractors of the company brought their concerns to Tesla several times on this subject.

The road is still long

The regulators also want to know how Tesla vehicles are trying to see flashing lights on emergency vehicles, or detect the presence of fire trucks, ambulances and police cars."Tesla was invited to produce and validate data as well as their interpretation of this data".

In a clip posted on Twitter, the technological capacity of Tesla's autonomous driving software was praised by Elon Musk, promising other next improvements in updates."Up to the upcoming neural network that improves persistence in time and space".

Optimus in reinforcement!

Outre les logiciels, les ingénieurs de Tesla travaillent au lancement d'un humanoïde l'année prochaine, "Optimus", qui pourrait notamment être utilisé pour convoyer des pièces ou marchandises dans une usine.For Elon Musk, these robots will have a higher commercial potential than that of cars...

To find out more about autonomous and electric cars with Etoro.