Tesla Makes Improvements to Camera Clarity [Video] [Update: Now in update 2023.32]

FSD Beta 11.4.7 includes improved processing for camera feeds

Tesla has recently released the FSD Beta version 11.4.7 to a broader range of customer testers, and many Tesla owners are already observing notable enhancements in the side repeater cameras. The interesting twist to the story is that many believed the new images that were surfacing were produced by newer vehicles equipped with HW4's higher resolution cameras, but that is not the case.

Musk Confirms Enhancement

@WholeMarsBlog questioned Elon Musk on whether advanced post-processing was integrated into the improved camera views in FSD Beta 11.4.7 (release notes). During a conversation on X Spaces, Musk confirmed that software had been employed to enhance the camera previews. The FSD 11.4.7 update brought with it refined post-processing, resulting in a more precise white balance, color balance and much sharper images when drivers view the side cameras while on the road. This is a marked improvement compared to the previous FSD Beta 11.4.6 version.

Before & After Video Comparison

Everything Looks Better with Update

Mike, a Tesla enthusiast from CyberOwners.com, underscored the substantial improvements he noticed in his 2019 Model 3 after updating to FSD beta 11.4.7. He enthusiastically described the update as an “amazing improvement” in the performance of the turn signal cameras compared to the earlier version.

Although Mike did not review the dashcam, he mentioned that the rear camera performance, which was already satisfactory, has been further refined. “Rear looks great... of course, rear already looked good compared to the repeaters,” Mike stated during a discussion on platform X. He also lauded the software update for rectifying the “proper color balance,” a recurrent issue with the older cameras.

This progress is especially significant considering Mike’s Model 3 is a 2019 version equipped with older cameras, notorious for their “light bleed at night.” Tesla has since rectified this hardware issue in recent models. This suggests that Tesla’s software development team concentrates on enhancing new models and is dedicated to optimizing the performance of older vehicles.

Chuck Cook, another tester, also demonstrated the camera enhancements of FSD beta 11.4.7. While acknowledging that the locations and lighting in his comparison were slightly different, Cook noted additional processing was evident.

This is an incredible software enhancement for cameras that have a resolution of 1.2 megapixels. The new cameras are 5 megapixels, which means that advanced hardware mixed with the new software will make for crystal clear images. This makes sense. The car must have the best visual inputs, considering that Tesla is moving toward “nothing but nets” FSD, relying solely on what the car sees and not how it is coded.

Update: A big question on everyone's mind was whether these camera feed improvements would roll out to non-FSD updates. Since they weren't explicitly related to FSD Beta, it would be likely that they would eventually be merged into Tesla's main branches, but the question remained — when? We're now seeing several reports that these camrea improvements are included in Tesla's latest update, version 2032.32.1.

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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

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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

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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.

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

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

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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.

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