Tesla has updated its full self-driving software.
Tesla has introduced new driver assistance features in its Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta.
Three new autonomous driving modes
According to The Verge, the beta version of Tesla’s FSD allows the driver to choose from three driving profiles: “Chill”, “Average” and “Assertive”. Depending on the chosen profile, the car will react differently to certain road situations. The feature was included in Update 10.3 of the October 2021 release. The same feature that disappeared two days after it began rolling out due to issues with left turns at traffic lights or unscheduled stops .
Published on January 9, the update therefore announces the return of fully autonomous driving profiles in beta. In “Chill” mode, the vehicle will have “greater following distance and will execute fewer rapid lane changes”. “Average” mode will allow the car to have “an average tracking distance” and operate sliding stops. The “Assertive” mode raises several questions.
A controversial feature
In the description of the “Assertive” option, Tesla indicates that the vehicle “will have a smaller tracking distance”, will be able “change lanes more frequently”, born “will not leave passing lanes” and may perform “Rolling Stop”. In other words, the car could adopt behaviors recognized as dangerous. For example, the Rolling Stop is the Anglo-Saxon translation of slipped stops. This is a practice of not stopping completely at a stop sign or a stop sign represents a traffic violation.
At this time, Tesla’s full self-driving technology remains in beta and receives regular updates. Since the company has not yet completed all testing of the “Assertive” mode, it is difficult to establish whether the vehicles in question will actually produce violations.
Vehicles not fully autonomous
The term “Full Self-Driving” can be misleading. Indeed, the FSD function does not offer true autonomous driving, but rather advanced assistance to the driver.
Tesla began beta testing the FSD in October 2020, priced at $8,000. She then raised the price to $10,000 and then to $12,000, effective January 17.