Tesla's FSD Feature Acts as Guardian Angel in Near-Miss Incident [Video]

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla's FSD and AEB systems prevent a possibly deadly accident
Tesla's FSD and AEB prevent a possibly deadly accident
Guri C

In a harrowing incident posted on X.com, Tesla owner Guri C publicly thanked Elon Musk and Tesla's Full Self-Driving system and the Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) feature for averting what could have been a tragic accident.

According to Guri C, FSD was engaged, but the Model Y would not move forward when the light turned green. Despiting pushing the accelerator to take control, the Model Y refused to move forward, suddenly hitting the brakes instead. Seven seconds after the light turned green, a vehicle ran the red at a high rate of speed, and it would've been a terrible and possibly deadly collision if the Tesla had not intervened.

FSD Paid for Itself

Guri C's firsthand testimony of the incident on X.com initiated a lot of reactions, emphasizing the safety net that autonomous technology provided in unforeseen circumstances. Several individuals applauded the advanced technology in Tesla vehicles, pointing out that the reluctance of the FSD system to accelerate even under human command possibly saved lives in this instance.

Some highlighted the remarkable integration of the continuously evolving neural network powered by multiple cameras and AI chips, which works tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring the vehicle's autonomous responses are always a step ahead in recognizing potential dangers on the road.

Recent Tesla Enhancements

In a deep dive into Tesla's safety features prompted by the incident, the term "AI Guardian Angel" emerged, symbolizing the protective instinct of the vehicle empowered by artificial intelligence. Discussions spotlighted Obstacle-Aware Acceleration, another safety feature that corroborates with the FSD to take necessary actions when confronting unforeseen hazards, indicating the multilayered safety net that Tesla has woven into its autonomous driving features.

The narrative portrayed by Guri C stirred debates distinguishing between FSD and AEB, with the latter being the system that eventually halted the car, clearly demonstrating the life-saving feature engineered into Tesla vehicles. The AEB feature got a significant upgrade in April, which may have been the difference between life and death in this situation.

This life-saving event showcases the advancement in autonomous technology, illustrating a near future where AI operates with heightened awareness, actively preventing accidents and ensuring road safety. This incident, echoing Tesla's data affirming the safety of autonomous vehicles, builds confidence in the shift towards autonomous driving.

Tesla's commitment to safety and innovation shines in this instance, reinforcing belief in a future where roads are safer with autonomous technology, a vision spearheaded by Elon Musk, making a safer autonomous future not just a possibility but an impending reality.

Video of Incident

Tesla Installs Special Edition, Ultra Red Supercharger As It Reaches 50,000th Mark

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla creates a special 50,000th Supercharger
Tesla creates a special 50,000th Supercharger
Not a Tesla App

Over the past couple of days, Tesla hit not one but two remarkable milestones, marking a significant chapter in its rapidly evolving story. If you spent the weekend engrossed in the new Elon Musk biography by Walter Isaacson, you can perhaps fully appreciate the magnitude of these accomplishments: the production of Tesla’s five millionth car and the installation of its 50,000th Supercharger.

Five Million Vehicles Strong

On its official Weibo account, Tesla unveiled its five millionth vehicle, a pearl white Model 3, freshly rolled off the production line at the Shanghai Gigafactory. This notable milestone embodies Tesla's journey “from a blank canvas to today’s five millionth vehicle,” a path characterized by simplicity and efficiency. Through their message, Tesla conveyed deep gratitude towards their global community of owners and supporters, urging everyone to "power up together" for a greener and brighter future. This celebratory announcement follows a series of production landmarks, the most recent being the four million car milestone reached in March, highlighting the company's exponential growth.

50,000 Superchargers: Painting the World Ultra Red

The weekend's festivities extended beyond the production line, with Tesla celebrating a Supercharger network milestone: the 50,000th installation. The Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley shared a video (below) showcasing Tesla's latest landmark in action. This special unit, distinctly colored Ultra Red, is located at Living Spaces at 1851 Freedom Way, Roseville, California. Since introducing just six Superchargers in 2012, Tesla has demonstrated its commitment to facilitating widespread electric vehicle use.

The Supercharger network, a pillar in Tesla's strategy to foster electric vehicle adoption, offers convenient and rapid charging solutions worldwide. This recent installation is a firm pledge to a global ethos where electric vehicles (EVs) can flourish.

Factory Tours for Referrals

Tesla is not only escalating its production but also opening doors for enthusiasts to witness where the magic happens. Tesla is introducing tram tours of its factories in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas, as a part of its referral program. This exclusive peek can be redeemed using referral credits, ushering Tesla account holders and up to three guests into the production sanctuaries that have revolutionized the automotive industry.

However, while the immersion into Tesla’s world is facilitated, travel and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the attendees. The company maintains a stringent no-media policy during the tours, underscoring the confidentiality preserved in these powerhouse spaces. Tesla aims to bolster engagement with its customer base through this initiative, enticing them with an insider’s view while encouraging more referrals despite moving away from the previous tradition of complimentary Fremont factory tours.

The electric vehicle pioneer isn't slowing down as Tesla gears up for an exciting future with the much-anticipated Cybertruck launch, which already boasts over 2 million unofficial pre-orders. Analysts anticipate that the existing production pace could potentially herald the creation of six million Tesla vehicles in early 2024.

Tesla Improves Reverse Camera View in Update 2023.32

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla improves the reverse camera in update 2023.32
Tesla improves the reverse camera in update 2023.32
Not a Tesla App

Tesla’s continuous updates are well documented, but sometimes, the undocumented changes come as pleasant surprises. Thanks to our diligent readers and the proactive Tesla community, we are always alerted to the latest under-the-radar features that provide a surprising tweak.

Reverse Camera Adjustments

With update 2023.32, Tesla has improved the rear camera view by cropping the video feed so that it completely eliminates being able to see the trunk in the top portion of reverse camera and removes most of the bumper in the lower portion as well.

Though it may initially seem like a decrease in visual range, this adjustment is an improvement. By focusing solely on the essential parts of the rear view, distractions are minimized, paving the way for a clearer, more centralized perspective of the environment behind the vehicle. This refined vision aids drivers in making more precise judgments when reversing, thereby enhancing safety and precision..

Improved Camera Clarity

In addition, the video post-processing has been enhanced, offering improved white and color balance to the vehicle's camera feeds. These augmentations result in a more natural-looking video display during live view and utilizing functionalities like Sentry Mode or the Dashcam.

Intresestingly, Tesla's feature that allows you to preview each camera feed under Controls > Service, still shows the unaltered camera feeds, including the repeater cameras, which were also recently cropped to remove the vehicle's side-mirrors when using the blind spot camera feature.

Tesla has again displayed meticulous attention to detail. The company that is already selling more EVs than anyone else (by a long shot), and the safest cars on the planet doesn't seem to be anywhere close to finished making small tweaks to make a great vehicle even better.

Update: At this time, it looks like the reverse camera cropping is only being applied to hardware 4 vehicles, which include cameras with a higher resolution. It's not clear whether Tesla will crop the video on HW3 vehicles as well.

Latest Tesla Update

Confirmed by Elon

Take a look at features that Elon Musk has said will be coming soon.

Subscribe

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Sponsors

Find out how to become a sponsor and have your site listed here.

Although we share official Tesla release notes, we are not affiliated with Tesla Motors. We are Tesla fans and supporters.

Latest Tesla Update

Confirmed by Elon

Take a look at features that Elon Musk has said will be coming soon.

Subscribe

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.