Tesla Inc. is facing criticism for its approach to vehicle autonomy, with researcher Troy Teslike stating that the company is skipping a vital step in achieving driverless technology. According to Teslike, Tesla’s plan to transition directly to driverless operations is unrealistic and may pose significant risks.
The Missing Step
Teslike notes that Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., took three years to address all edge cases and transition from unsupervised testing with a safety driver present to fully driverless operations. In contrast, Tesla is attempting to skip this intermediate step, where the driver is not required to actively supervise the vehicle’s operations but can still take over when needed.
Current State of Autonomous Technology
Currently, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology requires the driver to pay active attention and be ready to take over at any moment. However, Teslike argues that there must be an additional step before achieving driverless operations, where the driver can engage in other activities, such as checking emails, and the car will alert them if it needs them to take over.
Elon Musk’s Plan
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced plans to start testing an autonomous ride-hailing service in Texas in June, with vehicles deployed with FSD. Musk has also stated that the company expects its driverless vehicles to operate in several cities by the end of the year. However, Teslike believes that this plan is unrealistic and that the company is rushing to achieve driverless technology without properly addressing the necessary intermediate steps.
Implications of Tesla’s Approach
The implications of Tesla’s approach to vehicle autonomy are significant. If the company is able to successfully deploy driverless vehicles, it could revolutionize the transportation industry. However, if the technology is not properly tested and validated, it could pose significant risks to passengers and other road users.
Tesla’s Robotaxi Fleet
Musk has also announced plans for a robotaxi fleet, which will function like a combination of Airbnb and Uber. The fleet will allow individual customers to add or subtract their vehicles at will, and riders will be able to summon a car using the Tesla App. However, the success of this venture will depend on the company’s ability to develop and deploy safe and reliable driverless technology.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tesla’s approach to vehicle autonomy has raised concerns among researchers and experts in the field. While the company’s ambitions are impressive, its decision to skip crucial steps in the development process may pose significant risks. As the company continues to push the boundaries of autonomous technology, it is essential that it prioritizes safety and ensures that its vehicles are properly tested and validated before deployment.