Tesla Tells Senate That Autopilot May Have Thought Truck In Fatal Crash Was Just A Road Sign

Tesla Motors Inc told U.S. Senate Commerce Committee staff it is considering two theories that may explain what led to the May 7 fatal crash that killed a Florida man who was using the car’s “Autopilot” system, a person familiar with the meeting told Reuters on Friday.

Tesla staff members told congressional aides at a briefing on Thursday that they are still trying to understand the “system failure” that led to the crash, the source said.

Tesla is considering whether the radar and camera input for the vehicle’s automatic emergency braking system failed to detect the truck trailer or the automatic braking system’s radar may have detected the trailer but discounted this input as part of a design to “tune out” structures such as bridges to avoid triggering false braking, the source said.

mpls - 7/30/2016 6:07:43 PM

+2 Boost

Saw a brief interview in which BBC asked Musk whether it was wrong for Tesla to introduce the unproven autopilot to the public in the light of reported crashes. He didn't even answer the question and I'm suprised BBC didn't even push him on it,

MDarringer - 7/31/2016 3:42:59 PM

+1 Boost

It's patently unethical for Musk to be testing "beta" technologies on the buying public. Mercedes has WISELY backed off trumpeting its autopilot features correctly seeing Musk diving deep into a firestorm. Mercedes is not stepping back because its technology is bad, but to avoid having Mercedes be tarnished by Tesla's irresponsibility.

HughJass - 8/1/2016 2:27:34 PM

+1 Boost

and Volvo said they won't release anything until it is perfect. However, unlike real automakers, Tesla's stock price is propped up and inflated on hype and Elon know's he's got to hype up everything as much as possible. Musk also becomes alot wealthier on paper the more he's able to inflate his stock price.

Wouldn't be surprised if he ended up releasing an Auto Pilot Beta Pro with some gimmicky things that are already available but with mundane names, such as "autonomous voice indicators" meaning "saying signal left or right instead of flicking the switch like you have to now.

MDarringer - 8/1/2016 3:19:52 PM

+1 Boost

I think he is angling to sell Tesla. The question is when.