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Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

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Re: Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

#141
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be honest, I've only really heard this misunderstanding from non-owners. The really scary ones are the ones that own it, know about the limitations, and intentionally bypass the safeguards.

I don't disagree, but I honestly have not really heard much from owners. Definitely not nearly enough to call it a representative sample.

Instead of your personal experience, how about data?

https://insideevs.com/tesla-autopilot-survey-results-98-unde...

Re: Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

#142
post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The more I think about it, the more I think that there should be an outward signal, such as a special light, that a car is in self-driving mode. We already require signals when changing lanes, reversing, and for electric cars to be audible at low speeds (starting in 2019). Those nearby shouldn’t have to guess if a car is under computer control.

I have been thinking about this more and more on my commute every day. Commuting up and down US101, I see so many Tesla's driving on the left lane, setting their autopilot to 65mph, just blocking traffic. There needs to be a visible indicator on the outside. By the way, one can speculate there are interesting ways to trigger beeps inside these Teslas coasting on the left lane.

Huh. I never see Teslas going the speed limit in the HOV lane on 101.

Re: Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

#143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lots of cars have automatic braking these days, and I bet exactly zero of them care about the car behind them.

Correct, that's the situation today. Tomorrow, the situation might be that a computer controlled car could see that the car behind is tailgating and the car in the next lane is computer controlled — then determine the safest action would be to swerve into the next lane rather than brake suddenly...

That's getting into trolley problem territory. I'd prefer that my car not do crazy shit.

Re: Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

#144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would be curious about the stats though, If accidents are less frequent, is it at fault for accidents, or did it save us from a bunch of accidents?

> or did it save us from a bunch of accidents? I do not believe Tesla’s are equipped with the necessary hardware to scientifically show beyond a reasonable doubt they assisted in preventing accidents.

Part of the problem is that whether an accident would have occurred is partially dependent on the human driver. While some accidents are unavoidable and some are completely preventable, there's a gray area in between those that depends on driver skill to a degree.

Re: Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

#145
post #81

As a current Tesla owner and frequent autopilot user I can attest to this being a scenario where autopilot has not worked for me - traveling at high speed and approaching a stopped vehicle from a distance. I now always take it off autopilot when this occurs because it will not brake in time.

Just curious what action is needed to disengage autopilot, is it simply a matter of grabbing steering wheel, or does a button need to be pressed? Is there a "hybrid" mode where it remains in autopilot but with option to manually adjust speed and steering?

If there's something in front of you, slamming on the bakes both slows the car and disables autopilot.

Re: Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

#146
post #81

As a current Tesla owner and frequent autopilot user I can attest to this being a scenario where autopilot has not worked for me - traveling at high speed and approaching a stopped vehicle from a distance. I now always take it off autopilot when this occurs because it will not brake in time.

From a technical perspective—why would Tesla not have taken more care to address this scenario? It seems like low hanging fruit in comparison to other challenges that autopilot has to be able to handle.

I get the impression that these incidents (if this is the case again) are due to Tesla being confident in their camera-based approach (with mid-range radar). Other manufacturers seem to be emphasizing hardware to a greater extend, with Audi even having lidar in the new A8.

Re: Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

#147
post #92
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, the quote about the NTSB on a similar accident is telling: "the National Transportation Safety Board ruled that Autopilot contributed to the crash by allowing lengthy disengagement from the driving process." In my view, driving is already boring enough that it's insufficiently attention-grabbing for safety's sake. That's why, e.g., the "naked streets" model is removing lane marking. Decreasing (false) certainty…

Didn't Tesla respond to the NTSB report by requiring much more frequent interaction?

Yes.

This type of accident in Level 2 systems is never going to be zero.

Re: Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

#148

I wonder if it is imprudent to create too many vehicles that have partial self-driving capability before we have ones that can do 100% of it. Instead of to the point where you can take your attention away from the road, but not to the point where it can reliably avoid accidents on your behalf. Too many people aren't wise enough to use the partial autonomous technology without abusing it.

People have been safely and intelligently using cruise control for... decades? It is a partial automation solution that reduces half of what you have to manage when controlling the car (how fast you're going). I suspect the primary problem is not the partial autonomous technology, but the marketing which is convincing people they can trust it. Nobody ever told you your cruise control means you don't have to pay atten…

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Re: Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

#149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe they could take some ideas from the rail industry, which have been dealing with this issue for quite some time now. Engineers are required to to make some kind of input to verify that they're still alert, or the train stops[1] if they haven't done anything in X seconds. Obviously you wouldn't want the car to just stop in the middle of the road, but there could be something like that designed. [1] https://www.qu…

All smart-assist cars are required to sense if the drivers are actually maintaining their hands of the wheel. I don't know if they are to disengage or merely to annoy the user, but Tesla is notorious for skirting these regulations.

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Re: Tesla ‘on Autopilot’ slams into parked fire truck on freeway

#150
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well context is important, the people who operate planes know exactly what autopilot in a specific plane means, the people who operate cars are generally aware that there are cars.

Tesla state that autopilot will "match speed to traffic conditions, keep within a lane, automatically change lanes without requiring driver input, transition from one freeway to another, exit the freeway when your destination is near, self-park when near a parking spot and be summoned to and from your garage." I believe the problem lies in "Enhanced" and "Full self driving hardware". While this is an important point…

Tesla has a Level 2 system. People who actually use it see more than just the marketing material you've quoted.
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