After the fatal accident with an autonomously driving Model S has Tesla now announced a software update for his autopilot. The revision strengthens the role of the radar sensor in environmental detection. So far, the vehicles of the e-car pioneer rely primarily on a camera. The new software should be wirelessly installed in a few weeks. All vehicles built since October 2014 are considered; At that time, the radar was introduced to Tesla.
Background of the autopilot's technical reorientation is apparently a fatal accident in May in Florida. At that time, the camera of a Tesla had not recognized a crossing truck against a low-contrast background as an obstacle. The radar should prevent such errors in the future, the previously leading camera for this purpose completely override. Changes to the hardware are not intended, the improvements concern only the software.
As a further reaction to the criticism of the autopilot tightened Tesla in the software version 8.0 the application rules for the driver. Anyone who ignores the autopilot's warning to regularly take over the tax should no longer be able to reactivate the system while driving. The warnings of the autopilot should be more noticeable in the future. (Holger Holzer / SP-X)