Tesla released its high fidelity park assist feature during its 2023 holiday update
YouTube/AI DRIVR
A new video on YouTube (posted below) provides an in-depth look at Tesla's High Fidelity Park Assist. Viewers can get a good look at the system’s ability to accurately visualize and interact with the car's surroundings for improved parking assistance but also understand its weaknesses.
Urban traffic and limited parking spaces have made parking challenging, often leading to congestion and increased risk of accidents. Tesla's High Fidelity Park Assist is not just about making parking easier; it's about transforming it. Tesla is just cameras to create a 3D visualization of the car’s surroundings, enabling precision parking like never before.
Breakthrough Features of Tesla's Park Assist
AI DRIVR notes the visual accuracy and the clear view of the surroundings. It vividly shows barriers, crosswalks, parking spots and more. It goes beyond objects that FSD could identify, and even for objects that can’t be identified, they are still displayed on screen in 3D. AI DRIVR also does a great job of pointing out some weaknesses in the current system and determining its accuracy.
Upcoming Improvements
As we know, Tesla is constantly improving, but the first version of this system shows where the following upgrades may further advance the technology. Future versions are expected to offer even more precision and more accurate visual representations. The video presenter suggests the system might even cover larger areas and shift away from gray tones by overlaying images on the 3D objects.
The feature is currently limited to vehicles without ultrasonic sensors (USS), but Tesla’s director of Autopilot already said that the feature will also come to vehicles with USS. However, it’s not clear whether the feature will be limited to vehicles equipped with Ryzen-powered infotainment systems (MCU 3).
Tesla’s improved Park Assist is also currently limited to lower speeds (below about 3 mph), however, this could be expanded as well. One day FSD visualizations could be completely based on this technology instead of relying on pre-made 3D models.
Accuracy and Limitations
The technology accurately renders objects like cones and curbs, but the presenter notes that the system's accuracy diminishes with proximity to objects. Another area for improvement will be hardware and, obviously, the addition of a front bumper camera. Cars with front bumper cameras will benefit far more from this technology. However, there are no future retrofits, and only the newest production models are equipped with front cameras, such as the Cybertruck. The video notes that the system needs to improve in showing objects directly in front of the car.
Interestingly, the video shows the system performs much better backing into places. It’s likely due to that wide-angle camera. If you or your teenagers have gone through any driver’s training lately, you probably know that backing into spaces is recommended. It allows for a much safer departure from the space, and the new High Fidelity System is set up very well for that.
The High Fidelity Park Assist system represents a significant improvement in Tesla’s Park Assist. These vehicles were previously limited to Park Assist with questionable accuracy. Its ability to now accurately visualize surroundings in real-time offers a safer and more efficient parking experience. The system's ongoing development promises continual improvements, potentially leading to more precise and reliable parking assistance than currently available with ultrasonic sensors. This technology sets a new standard in the evolution of Tesla’s Park Assist.
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Tesla has begun to reach out to customers in the United States and is offering demo drives of the Cybertruck on an invite-only basis. @brandonhd on X shared the first invite image, and it looks like it's going out quite quickly to multiple locations that have Cybertrucks on display.
Up until now, display vehicles have been for just that – looking, but no touching. Some Tesla delivery centers and showrooms have also allowed viewers to take a seat inside and open it up, but most are still locked away behind the velvet rope.
It’s exciting to see that Tesla has begun to demo them – and it can only be so long until demo drives open up to everyone.
Advisor-led Demo
This Demo Drive is led by a Tesla Advisor – while you’re driving, the advisor will be in the passenger seat, walking you through the experience. They’ll explain steer-by-wire, off-road controls, and will introduce new-to-Tesla buyers to all the features that are currently available.
The list of locations so far for demo drives appears to be fairly limited, but we will hopefully see demo drives roll out throughout the United States, and eventually Canada too. Here is the current list of city/state locations that have seen demo drive invites.
Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.
We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.
Vision-based Improvements
ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.
Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.
I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.
Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.
Actually Smart Summon
ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.
We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.
We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.
Park Seek and Banish Autopark
When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.
A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.
While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.
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