What is Tesla Autopilot? ~ station of gear

Everything you need to know about Tesla Autopilot self-driving tech, as seen on the Tesla electric car line-up

2016-08-15 16:35

The Tesla driverless car isn’t here just yet, but Tesla Motors’ decision to name its ‘hands off the wheel’ assistance tech Autopilot is a pretty clear indication that the self-driving car is not simply a futuristic fantasy.

Unfortunately the much-headlined Tesla Autopilot death in the USA in July 2016 is an equally clear indication of the problems that lie ahead, as carmakers and technology companies compete to make self-driving cars a reality. As the in-car technology becomes ever more advanced, the hard part seems to be getting an autonomous vehicle to operate safely in an environment full of unpredictable humans.

• Driverless cars: everything you need to know

Most industry boffins agree there are three stages on the way to fully self-driving cars. The first stage is automated driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as Automatic Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping, Blind Spot and Cross Traffic alerts. Many cars offer these features, which have already become mainstream technology.

• Read our Tesla Autopilot review

The second stage is semi-autonomous driving, and here Tesla can claim leadership as there’s no other car out there that will let you take your hands off the wheel. So far, even Tesla can only manage the trick on motorways or dual carriageways. Semi-autonomous driving in town or rural roads is not yet possible, but all the signs are it’s not far off. The third stage – fully autonomous driving – is when cars can travel from A to B without any need for human intervention.

While the fully self-driving Autopilot system remains some years away, the latest Tesla news suggests the California based firm is getting ready to move the goalposts again in 2018 or ‘19, with hardware upgrades already being fitted to the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X and forthcoming Tesla Model 3 that will allow an even greater level of autonomous driving.

After the recent failure of Tesla’s Autopilot system, the California based company has already begun work on 'Autopilot 2.0'. The new system will increase the number of radars around the car and convert to a triple-camera system in a bid for greater safety.

New radars will be positioned in each corner of the car. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, suggested the goal would be to create something similar to that used in LIDAR systems, this would allow the car to create a greater 'point cloud' - an increase of the data points collected from a moving image.

The new hardware will use data gained from Autopilot 1.0 as well as live data attained from GPS maps and its own, more sophisticated mapping hardware. There are currently no dates set for the arrival of Autopilot 2.0, though Musk has stated that new self-driving hardware will be coming “sooner than people think.” And the improvements will “blow people’s minds.”

Below is our guide to the Tesla Autopilot system and what it can do...

Tesla Autopilot overview

The first thing to understand is that Tesla’s Autopilot does not take over all driving chores, because at this stage it is only semi-autonomous. It does allow the driver to take his or her hands off the wheel for extended periods of time on the motorway, but the driver must always pay attention to the road ahead, and be prepared to intervene when necessary. These are the key features of Autopilot as it is configured now.

1) Autosteer

Working with the radar cruise control system, lane cameras and all-round sensors, Autosteer allows you to let go of the wheel on the motorway or dual carriageway while the car steers itself. The radar cruise control and autonomous braking means you won’t crash into the car in front, as an Autopilot-equipped Tesla will brake from 70mph to a standstill if required. You set Autosteer in motion by simply tapping the cruise control lever twice. Touching the brake pedal disengages the system.

2) Auto Lane Change

Changing lanes is easy with Autopilot, but it remains a driver-instigated function – your Tesla can’t yet change lanes autonomously to overtake slower traffic, for example. At the moment, if you have Autopilot engaged and want to overtake, you simply turn on the relevant indicator using the column stalk. The car will change lanes when the sensors tell it such a manoeuvre appears safe, but Tesla says the driver still needs to double-check their surroundings before activating a lane change.

3) Automatic Emergency Steering

With side collision sensors constantly monitoring your progress, the Autopilot system will take evasive action by swerving away from another vehicle that comes too close. As the Tesla swerves, it sounds an alert to tell the driver to take the wheel.

4) Autopark

In town, the Tesla will recognise parking spaces and parallel park on command.

How does Tesla Autopilot system work?

The Tesla Autopilot relies on technology created by Mobileye to generate a digital image of the space around the car. Using cameras and radar sensors, and some very complex algorithms, the Mobileye black box can recognise the road ahead, choose the optimum path along it, and recognise objects like other cars, cyclists, and road signs.

Have you ever tried Tesla Autopilot? Tell us about it in the comments section below...

Chris Rosamond

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