Tesla's Model Y With Hardware 4.0 Doesn't Include Radar: We Take a Look at Why

Tesla's Model Y with HW4 is coming without radar

Tesla

As Tesla continues to redefine the automotive industry, insiders have revealed that the company's upcoming Hardware 4.0 (HW4) will not include the radar module in its Model Y vehicles, at least not initially. This marks a shift in the company's approach towards autonomous driving, relying more heavily on vision-based systems. This strategic decision builds on the recent introduction of HW4 in the luxury Model S and Model X models.

HW4 Evolution and Vision Focus:

Previously, the integration of HD radar in the Model S and Model X indicated an evolution in the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) hardware. However, according to a trusted source, Tesla is not including HD radar in its new Model Ys with HW4. This surprising decision could mean several things, possibly indicating that Tesla views HD radar as a "ground truth" to help improve their vision systems rather than a vital component for FSD vehicles.

Ground-truth Radar: A Tool for Vision Improvement:

In this sense, ground truth refers to the objective reality or facts of a situation, typically used as a benchmark to measure the accuracy of an AI system's predictions or observations.

Last year, Tesla registered a new high-resolution radar unit with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a move that sparked speculation about the company's approach to FSD. The radar unit, intended for imaging similar to LiDAR, hinted at Tesla's continuing interest in using ground-truth systems to train their machine-learning algorithms for vision accuracy. Despite Elon Musk's well-documented skepticism towards LiDAR for autonomous driving, Tesla prototypes have been spotted with LiDAR sensors.

HD Radar to be Added Later?

Although Tesla may be using its radar in HW4 vehicles to improve their vision system, other possibilities could have led Tesla to this decision. New Model Ys with HW4 may only be without radar temporarily, possibly due to a supply chain issue. New owners would still better off receiving a vehicle with HW4 and without radar than a HW3-equipped vehicle due to the improved cameras and faster FSD computer that includes redundancy.

Cost Savings

Of course, HD radar inclusion could also come down to cost. With the Model Y costing almost half of Tesla's luxury models, this decision could come down to cost. If Tesla believes their FSD system could perform almost identically to vehicles with radar, they may simply decide to forego the radio technology in lower-cost vehicles.

Balancing Vision and Radar: The Trade-Off:

While HD radar and LiDAR can provide highly accurate 3D depth measurements, their high cost and potential to overwhelm the FSD system with conflicting data have led Tesla to prioritize camera-based vision systems. Musk has consistently argued that self-driving cars should navigate the world in the same manner as human drivers, using cameras and computational power to navigate three-dimensional space.

Model Y With HW4 But Without HD Radar:

While excluding HD radar from the HW4 in Model Y might seem like a setback, it could prove to be a game-changer. Tesla's strategy of using radar to enhance vision rather than as a core component of its FSD system means that these vehicles may not be as disadvantaged as initially thought.

This approach is consistent with Tesla's earlier decision to remove ultrasonic sensors from some vehicles, enabling them to run vision-based park assist code and compare vision readings to ultrasonic sensor readings. This resulted in significant improvements in vision detection, further solidifying Tesla's commitment to a vision-oriented future.

Introducing HW4 into the Model Y may suggest Tesla's potential future strategies. For instance, commercial Robotaxis may employ multi-sensor systems, including radar and possibly LiDAR, to achieve full automation. Conversely, consumer self-driving vehicles could maintain the vision-only approach to keep costs down.

Ultimately, the transition to HW4 indicates Tesla's unwavering pursuit of refining autonomous driving technology. As the landscape of self-driving vehicles continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Tesla's approach shapes the future of this sector.

Follow

Follow

A Closer Look at Tesla's Ambient Lighting Feature in the New Model 3 and Cybertruck [Video]

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3

crospotter13

If you look up ambient lights for Tesla, you'll see several ads for third-party light kits. Perhaps this is why Tesla added its own Ambient Lights feature to the new Model 3. So, let's get enlightened.

Tesla's ambient lights are thin light strips that are embedded in each of the vehicle's doors near the top edge. It also curves around the dashboard near the windshield, giving passengers a near 360-degree light effect.

Supported Models

Tesla new ambient light feature is available on the new Model 3 (2024+), and will be available on the Cybertruck in a similar manner. With a refresh ongoing for the Model Y, known as Juniper, it will likely also have ambient lights. That just leaves out the most luxurious flagship vehicles, the Model S and X, for now.

The Model S and Model X could be due for a minor refresh that would not only add ambient lighting, but also include a front-bumper camera that the Cybertruck has and the new Model 3 is expected to have in the near future.

Customization

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3

AutoTopNL

The ambient light settings allow you to light up the interior in a color that reflects your mood or preference. Under Controls > Lights > Accent Lights, you are handed the freedom to choose virtually any color to adorn the interior of your Tesla.

You have control over whether the ambient lights are on, off, or set to an "Auto" setting, though not fully clarified, seems to promise intelligent lighting adjustments akin to our control over dome lights, offering a reduction in reflections during drives.

While the ability to control the brightness level seems missing, Tesla did include color presets, letting you curate a series of your favorite colors.

It should be noted that the changes are confined to the light strips on the doors and dash, steering clear of the footwell lights and other interior lighting.

Future Enhancements

With Tesla, we can be assured there will be enhancements to this feature in a future update. In fact, the Tesla community is already busy coming up with useful suggestions. Some owners thought Tesla should take advantage of the lighting to provide driver feedback, such as automatically changing the ambient lighting to a red hue when there's a vehicle in your blind spot. Tesla could also glow the light strip on a door if it's not closed properly, or use the lighting to provide feedback when Sentry Mode is enabled.

Other uses could be more fun, such as cycling the light through various colors when the 'Rainbow Road' easter egg is activated.

Ambient Lighting in Action

While the possibilities are endless and Tesla engineers will surely have fun coming up with creative uses for the feature, the biggest improvement we can hope for in the near future is the ability to adjust the light intensity.

Follow

Follow

Tesla Model 3 'Highland' Performance Details Discovered in European Documents

Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades

Tesla

Tesla outdid itself with the refreshed Model 3, known as the Highland. Despite all the fantastic upgrades, something is missing - the Performance version or perhaps the Plaid. The letter "T" has shown up on vehicle certificates in Europe, and despite Elon Musk's sense of humor, it is unlikely this is a Mr. T reference.

Deciphering the 'T'

A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor

eivissacopter / X

Diligent scrutiny of the European Type Certificate, issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW and shared on the TFF Forum, revealed a subtle yet pivotal alteration — including the letter 'T' in the eighth digit of the Model 3 Performance's VIN.

This seemingly minor detail, indicative of the vehicle's motor/drive unit type, sparked curiosity and speculation on the forum. Could it be a tri-motor setup to usher in a new Plaid version of the Model 3? This vehicle has already got endless amounts of zip, but three motors? May The Schwartz Be With You!

This could also explain the Model 3+ badging that was spotted during the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China inspection of the refresh. However, the regulatory filings highlighted just two distinct variants of the car: a rear-wheel drive (RWD) with a 194 kW motor and an all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor setup that combines to deliver a formidable 331 kW of maximum power.

Initial conjectures leaned towards the possibility of a tri-motor setup, drawing parallels with the Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X. However, a deeper dive into the certification document clarified that the Model 3 Performance retained its Dual Motor setup, dispelling the possibility of a tri-motor upgrade.

Strategic Enhancements: A Glimpse into Potential Upgrades

Given the documented specifications, it becomes plausible that Tesla has strategically enhanced one of the dual motors, potentially aligning it with the advanced motor found in the Model S/X Plaid. This modification is poised to augment the top-end speed and acceleration of the Model 3 Performance, addressing its comparative limitations in extended races against traditional gas-powered supercars.

Meanwhile, the Model 3 refresh has become the new Bigfoot of the roads of North America, with rare sightings posted on social media. However, it appears the continent is excluded from the initial launch of the Model 3 Highland. Internal communications within Tesla suggest North American enthusiasts might have to exercise patience until 2024.

Follow

Follow