I lastly received an opportunity to check out Tesla Full Self-Driving (supervised) v12.5 myself, and my first impression is that the system drives extra naturally, however it’s nonetheless harmful.
Vigilance is paramount.
Yesterday, I lastly obtained a software program replace on my Tesla Mannequin 3 that learn ‘v12.5’ (12.5.2.1, to be precise).
I had been ready for it for some time. You see, name me naive, however when Tesla CEO Elon Musk mentioned final yr that FSD updates on HW4 (newer Tesla automobiles) would lag about 6 months behind HW3 (older Tesla automobiles), I believed him:
It made sense. He promised unsupervised self-driving on tens of millions of HW3 automobiles for years. It is sensible that Tesla focuses on delivering on the promise for these older automobiles with much less computing energy earlier than beginning to make the most of the upper computing energy on newer HW4 automobiles.
Nevertheless, that didn’t occur.
Earlier this yr, Musk promised important enhancements to FSD rolling each two weeks:
However I received FSD v12.3.6 on HW3 Tesla Mannequin 3 on the time and didn’t obtain any extra FSD replace for six months.
As a substitute, Musk admitted that Tesla now must optimize its FSD code to work on older HW3 automobiles, and HW4 automobiles are getting extra updates sooner – signaling Tesla is reaching the bounds of the {hardware} on older automobiles regardless of guarantees made.
Whereas this case has enormously scale back my hopes of Tesla ever delivering on its promise of reaching self-driving on tens of millions of automobiles bought since 2016, I used to be nonetheless excited to see this within the launch notes on my automobile after an replace this week:
Yesterday, I needed to drive from Shawinigan to Trois-Rivieres (25 miles) and again. It was a superb alternative to check out the system on each floor streets and highways.
My first impression is that there are important enhancements in driving consolation. It drives far more naturally; the auto velocity mode characteristic helps loads. It drives at a velocity that is sensible for the street quite than sticking to the velocity limits plus or minus what you inform it.
The brand new driver monitoring system, which is vision-based quite than sending alerts asking you to tug on the wheels regardless that you might be holding it, additionally helps make the system really feel extra pure.
Now, should you don’t sit up for the street for a couple of seconds, you get an alert on the display screen to concentrate to the street, which matches away should you convey your consideration again to it or give inputs to the steering wheel.
These have been the principle modifications. I didn’t see a major enchancment in efficiency, however the system is at the very least extra pleasant to make use of now. It makes utilizing Tesla FSD much less like a job and extra like a characteristic, which is a welcomed change after greater than two years of “FSD Beta” and now “Supervised FSD”.
I needed to disengage the system as I used to be approaching my vacation spot as a result of the automobile insisted on going into the correct lane once I wanted to be on the left to cease. This was a minor annoyance, however a disengagement nonetheless.
On the best way again, the automobile slowed down from my set velocity on the freeway for seemingly no motive. It’s a frequent downside with Tesla FSD that I had in nearly each iteration of the system. it may be harmful on highways, however this time, it solely slowed down by about 5-8 km/h and went again to the set velocity in a couple of seconds with out having to disengage.
Nevertheless, shortly after, I had a extra important situation that resulted in a important disengagement.
I needed to make a left flip right here:
A automobile was coming from the left, nevertheless it was fairly far and never coming quick. I’d have finished the flip with out hesitation, however I wasn’t certain if FSD, which is commonly on the cautious aspect in these turns, would or if it might watch for the automobile to go.
It determined to go, nevertheless it was nearly as if it modified its thoughts a 3rd of the best way into the flip because it stopped, or in any case decelerated enormously into the flip; it’s laborious to inform trigger I needed to react quick.
The entrance of the automobile was already in the best way, so I needed to take over and full the flip sooner to verify the upcoming automobile didn’t crash into me.
Up till that time, I used to be fairly impressed by FSD v12.5. It’s a superb reminder that because the tech improves and feels higher, particularly extra pure like this replace, it’s tremendous necessary to stay hyper-vigilant. The smoothness of this replace can induce overconfidence, however it’s nonetheless vulnerable to errors, as I used to be rapidly reminded.
Electrek’s Take
Whereas I’m impressed and I believe it is a vital step as FSD is now beginning to really feel like an precise characteristic quite than simply homework for Tesla clients to coach a system that Tesla bought to us years in the past, I nonetheless discover it laborious to see a path from this to unsupervised self-driving, particularly on HW3 automobiles.
Clearly, this was simply my first drive, and I have to spend a bit extra time with the system for a full evaluation, however I had two disengagements, together with a important one, in about 50 miles. We’re nonetheless very removed from unsupervised.
My major concern is that because the system feels higher, like with this replace, extra individuals will begin getting complacent with it, which might result in extra accidents. I hope that Tesla’s new driver monitoring system will counter that potential complacency.
What do you assume? Tell us within the remark part under.
