Tesla’s Activation Of Driver-Watching Camera Shows New Thinking
Tesla’s TSLA newest software update — the one which enables more limited Autopilot in the new cars shipped without a radar — also indicates they have enabled the use of the camera above the rear-view mirror for watching the driver. Tesla has refused to do this for a long time in spite of strong pressure to do so, so the capitulation shows an interesting change of heart.
Tesla’s automation systems, even their “full” self-driving system, are driver assist systems which require the driver to pay attention to the road, ready to take over when the system makes a mistake or can’t handle the road. While Tesla is fairly explicit about this, people, being people, quickly learn to disregard that, and many will stop paying attention.
To mitigate that, Tesla requires you keep your hands on the wheel and apply a mild steering force. Not enough to turn the wheel, just enough to know that you’re there. If you don’t apply it for a while, the car concludes your hands are off the wheel and it starts reminding you to apply the force. The warnings get less subtle, and eventually the car will slow down to a stop.
