Other automakers have been reluctant to use self-steering beyond parking and lane-holding, but Tesla feels comfortable to go one step further. Rather than simply providing a blind-spot warning, the car will steer itself into the adjacent lane when the driver activates the turning signal. Self-parking can also be managed without the driver in the car.
Highlighting Tesla’s focus on camera-based environmental awareness, the system can read speed-limit signs to automatically prevent law-abiding drivers from accidentally exceeding the posted speed.
The technology will rely on extra sensors, now totaling a dozen components, that will allow the car to analyze the area directly in front of the car. Long-range radar and 360-degree ultrasonic sonar complement the camera views, identifying both solid and ‘soft’ objects ahead of and around the vehicle.
CEO Elon Musk suggests the cars are essentially capable of full autonomous driving, but safety issues still need to be ironed out. He envisions a future where Tesla vehicles can meet their owner somewhere, or plug in its own charging cord.
Tesla is already building Model S sedans outfitted with the upgraded automation system, known as Autopilot.
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