Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer • Hacker News Board

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#121

Post by bri3d » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 2:26 AM UTC

patcon wrote: post #98

I'm sceptical that they'll be allowed to deploy this. But hey -- They should just push the update with a harcoded feature toggle keeping the functionality off. Then the line they tow is "Oops! Someone rooted their car and overrode our safety!"

Why not? Every luxury carmaker has had this level of highway autonomy for quite some time now - here's an example of an Infiniti where the (completely reckless) driver literally gets into the passenger's seat while the car is driving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY_zqEmKV1k

Most European automakers have systems with similar capability (Audi and Mercedes have systems that even work down to 0mph in traffic) but maintain a "one hand on the wheel" sensor to prevent stunts like this.

The purported "parking lot to parking lot" capability is what's really interesting, but it sounds like Tesla have no timeline to actually deploy it yet.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#122

Post by toolz » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 2:29 AM UTC

RowanH wrote: post #108

stevecalifornia wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mentally it's less stressful to get behind another car and just let the computer control the speed and distance the whole way. You stop caring if they are going 55 or 77. I just sit there and listen to podcasts. I stay alert though, and I've avoided the urge to read or something.

It would be an interesting experiment to measure actual alertness and ability to react.... I would hazard that while you think you might be alert you're probably less so as because you're not actively driving your brain is not ready to react in the same way as if it's constantly processing while driving. Case in point - I've got two cars, our boring diesel daily driver and 380hp:600kg track day weapon which you reall…

Personally I'll take the 5 edge case crashes a (insert time period) over the 10,000 any day. Not know anything about autonomous vehicles, though, I wonder if the edge case wrecks tend to be less serious simply because the safest choice will always be made in time of doubt I would think.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#123

Post by bri3d » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 2:30 AM UTC

bobbles wrote: post #78

coliveira wrote: post #76

It looks like Tesla is just trying to play catch up with some other companies. Volvo already has a car with self driving technology, Chrysler also has a very good near-self-driving system.

As mentioned elsewhere, this will be rolled out as an OTA update, people wont have to replace their cars for this

Only cars made since late 2014: http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/dual-motor-model-s-and-autop... , so most current Tesla owners would have to upgrade.

This announcement is quite bubbly, IMO. Many luxury automakers have had the capability for "highway autonomy" in the way Tesla seem to describe for several years now: see this reckless Infiniti driver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY_zqEmKV1k .

The "parking lot to parking lot" capability would be truly interesting (as city driving presents a lot of interesting problems that aren't just "follow lines and traffic") but as there's no announced timeline for it, there's no sign Tesla are actually ahead of the numerous other automakers working on the same capability.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#124

Post by cookingrobot » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 2:37 AM UTC

cmdrfred wrote: post #96

cowsandmilk wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think insurance companies know how to price it yet. If it works, insurance costs should go down. If it fails randomly, well....

Auto insurance is already insane, I'd love to see this take out the big automakers and the insurance companies with it.

Self-driving cars should come with insurance included, since accidents aren't the owners fault.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#125

Post by cbd1984 » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 2:46 AM UTC

AceJohnny2 wrote: post #21

Every time Elon Musk makes this kind of announcement, his engineering departments groan. As I understand, they have folks actively managing Musk trying to prevent him from promising the moon :)

> Every time Elon Musk makes this kind of announcement

... he does it not because it is easy, but because it is hard!

For his engineers.

Not so much for him.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#126

Post by cbd1984 » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 2:49 AM UTC

usaphp wrote: post #114

declan wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Teslas are in line with other luxury sedans (of course you may view all of those are insanely expensive). The 60 starts at $64K, cash price counting tax credits, and the P85 is $96K. Compare that with the starting prices of the BMW 5-series, $50K (base) to $94K (M5). The Porsche Panamera is $78K to $180K starting price. The Model S has been tested against the Mercedes S550, which starts at $94K. If you look at the pe…

I am sorry but You just can't compare tesla model s with Mercedes S class in terms of comfort - that's the biggest reason why people purchase an s class merc. In terms of interior quality and ride comfort I can only compare tesla to Toyota camry or Nissan maxima at best. Bmw, Mercedes never mind Porsches are miles ahead in comfort/interior quality departments.

How reliable are Teslas compared to Mercedes S class?

Not that being more reliable than a luxury automobile is a huge achievement:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/01/makes-expensive-car...

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#127

Post by ridgeguy » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 2:53 AM UTC

AceJohnny2 wrote: post #21

Every time Elon Musk makes this kind of announcement, his engineering departments groan. As I understand, they have folks actively managing Musk trying to prevent him from promising the moon :)

Browning understood Musk's impulse:

“Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?”

Robert Browning, from Men and Women and Other Poems

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#128

Post by jkestner » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 3:00 AM UTC

cbd1984 wrote: post #125

AceJohnny2 wrote: post #21

Every time Elon Musk makes this kind of announcement, his engineering departments groan. As I understand, they have folks actively managing Musk trying to prevent him from promising the moon :)

> Every time Elon Musk makes this kind of announcement ... he does it not because it is easy, but because it is hard! For his engineers. Not so much for him.

You're discounting the value of his leadership and company stock.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#129

Post by csours » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 3:10 AM UTC

cbd1984 wrote: post #126

usaphp wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am sorry but You just can't compare tesla model s with Mercedes S class in terms of comfort - that's the biggest reason why people purchase an s class merc. In terms of interior quality and ride comfort I can only compare tesla to Toyota camry or Nissan maxima at best. Bmw, Mercedes never mind Porsches are miles ahead in comfort/interior quality departments.

How reliable are Teslas compared to Mercedes S class? Not that being more reliable than a luxury automobile is a huge achievement: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/01/makes-expensive-car...

Huge number of features = more to go wrong.

Cutting edge tech = higher risk. (can be mitigated with engineering discipline)

Small production runs = less time to debug production process, which is a 2 edged sword: higher production costs and more built-in defects.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#130

Post by _ZeD_ » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 3:12 AM UTC

pbreit wrote: post #120

jacobolus wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but he also frequently makes false (or at best incredibly misleading) public statements about how far along they are on such projects. (Source: friend-of-a-friend is one of those groaning Tesla engineers.)

I worked for him directly. That's how he gets amazing stuff done. And clearly it works. If employees aren't up for it, probably best to find something else.

Were you an engineerer or a seller?