Tesla Autopilot Update Is Now Available — TSLA News

It’s not as interesting as Ballaban’s video because it was filmed on a highway at night that didn’t have a lot of cars, which makes the automatic lane change a bit less exciting.

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) on Thursday began downloading the latest version of its operating software for its line of luxury electric vehicles that includes autopilot features.

Model X SUVs, which the group put on the market several weeks ago in a limited release, are also due to get the software. Mobileye is a leading provider of driver-assistance technology, which is used by Tesla. “It will change people’s perception of the future quite drastically”, Musk said, Fox News reported.

But the new software has its limits. This is an incredible turning point for the auto maker and U.S. markets. Approximately 60,000 Model S sedans built since last fall now have autonomous capability.

RoadandTrack.com tested out the Tesla Autopilot in New York City traffic. He added, “It will get more and more refined over time”.

Tesla has fallen short of introducing fully autonomous cars due to regulatory concerns. There is a high demand for advanced gadgets and safety gears for protection, but automakers can not use those features without approval from state regulators. According to a company blog post, current owners just need to download the Tesla Version 7.0 patch. However, Tesla has a check-in feature which can be availed if a special license is required.

Musk estimated that within three years, cars will be able to drive “from your driveway to work without you touching anything”, but regulatory approval could take years.

Back to the mapping feature: Unlike Google Street View, whose images can be a few years old, Autopilot provides a real-time overview of the road network including lane markings, detours, construction, etc. These precious details are then shared through the cloud with other Tesla cars, so users know exactly what they’re driving into or can decide to take a different route.

But the real fun comes when he enables automatic lane changing where the vehicle waits until the lane he’s shifting into is clear of traffic before making its move.