Elon shares how to download Tesla's FSD Beta 10.1

FSD is as big of a topic as ever for Tesla right now. Tesla is releasing betas every two to three weeks and making some of the biggest improvements to FSD it has ever made in its history. Navigate on Autopilot for highways was a big deal, but this is absolutely monumental.

Tesla has been testing their FSD Betas to a closed group of testers, but is now nearing the point where they’ll be able to expand it to a wider audience.

10.1 Release

Version 10.1 of the FSD Beta is supposed to be the one that Tesla will expand to a wider audience. It'll also contain some big improvements such as the ability to creep backward and a single stack for highway and city driving. Tesla is aiming to release beta 10.1 on October 1st, just three weeks after the release of 10.0.

As we’re getting closer to the release of 10.1, Elon is releasing additional details on how users will be able to request access to the 10.1 beta.

Previously Elon talked about how Tesla owners will be able to tap a ‘Download FSD Beta’ button to request access to the beta and Tesla would then gradually allow more owners into the beta.

Good feedback from FSD Beta 10 users! 10.0.1 point release rolling out now.

10.1 rolls out a week from Friday with beta request button.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2021

Release of the Button

Elon is now releasing additional information on how this process will work. Elon said on Twitter that "10.1 rolls out a week from Friday with the beta request button". It sounds like the beta request button will roll out on September 24th and version 10.1 of the FSD Beta will remain on track for October 1st.

Tesla often phases in software updates to their fleet, so it’s unlikely at this point that everyone will get an update that will add a button to opt-in to the FSD Beta. Tesla has either already included the ability to display the button in previous software releases and just needs to enable it over an over the air update, or the button is not something that will be in the car. It could be a request made in the app or on their website.

How Tesla Will Decide

Elon also talked about how Tesla will decide who is let into the beta. He says that pressing the FSD Beta button will request permission to assess your driving behavior using the Tesla insurance calculator. I don’t believe Elon is saying Tesla insurance will need to be available in your state in order to qualify, but instead that Tesla will use the algorithms they use for Tesla insurance to determine a “good” driver to also assess whether you’d be a good fit for Tesla’s FSD Beta.

He goes on to say that your driving behavior will need to be in good standing for seven days before beta access is granted. It sounds like this this won't apply retroactively, but instead from the moment you request access to the FSD Beta. Since the button is going to be available on September 24th, it'll give Tesla a week to monitor your driving before giving you access to the beta on October 1st.

Beta button will request permission to assess driving behavior using Tesla insurance calculator. If driving behavior is good for 7 days, beta access will be granted.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2021

At this point, we’re just two weeks out from the release of the 10.1 beta. And with Elon releasing additional details on how to get into the beta, I’d say Tesla is feeling very confident in its ability to deliver. Of course, we should all take it easy on Elon if dates slip a little, this is unmarked territory and we’re lucky Elon shares as much information as he does about Tesla’s future plans.

Elon also shared some news on when he expects Tesla to expand the FSD Beta outside of the US. He said that the technology will probably be ready in a few months, but ultimately will depend on regulations. I think a lot of this will depend on how the release of the FSD Beta goes in the US. If it’s smooth then Tesla will have more resources to focus on expansion outside of the US. It’s possible that depending on a country’s similarities to US roads, traffic signs etc, it could also speed up or slow down the FSD Beta’s release in the given country.

Update: We have additional details on how Tesla insurance calculates safe drivers.

Follow

Follow

Follow

Tesla Increases Price of Model S; Starts Offering Free Lifetime Supercharging

Not a Tesla App

For the first time in quite a while, Tesla has increased the price of one of its vehicle offerings. The Model S Long Range and the Model S Plaid have both received a hefty price increase. However, not all is bad - as Tesla also added a new benefit for buyers.

Price Increase

The price increase for the Model S is $5,000 - currently only in the United States. This price increase will likely impact other markets, including Canada, in the coming days.

The Model S Long Range now starts at $79,990, while the Model S Plaid now starts at $94,990. The Model S and Model X now have the same starting price. Interestingly, that’s also the same pricing point for the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast Trimotor non-Foundation Series. 

The vehicle configuration does not appear to have changed, so the new pricing is simply an increase rather than the addition or removal of features. Tesla previously cut the price of the Model S and Model X by 15% in 2023, so this could simply be an adjustment to ensure that the vehicle pricing stays in line with inflation and other factors.

Free Lifetime Supercharging

For those on the fence about ordering a Model S, Tesla has brought back Free Lifetime Supercharging when you order a new Model S on or after December 13, 2024. As always, Free Lifetime Supercharging is restricted to the buyer’s Tesla account and to that specific vehicle. It cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner after ownership transfer. It’s worth noting, that it also doesn’t exclude the owner from receiving Supercharger idle fees or congestion fees. There is currently no end date for this promotion.

There are currently no changes to the Model X, neither a price increase nor the addition of Lifetime Superchargering. However, when Tesla makes changes to one of their premium vehicles, it usually affects the other one as well. So be on the lookout for potential changes to the Model X offering in the coming days.

We’ve seen Tesla value Lifetime Supercharging at $5,000, so this falls in line with the price increase we’re seeing. It’s possible that Tesla will begin to bring back Lifetime Supercharging as a perk for buying into their more premium Model S and Model X cars, or this could be another temporary promotion to get buyers who are on the fence to go ahead and make their purchase while this promotion lasts.

Follow

Follow

Follow

Tesla’s Optimus Robot Learns to Walk Without Vision [VIDEO]

Optimus Falls - but catches itself!

Not a Tesla App

Tesla recently showed off a demo of Optimus, its humanoid robot, walking around in moderately challenging terrain—not on a flat surface but on dirt and slopes. These things can be difficult for a humanoid robot, especially during the training cycle.

Daily walks help clear your mind pic.twitter.com/dUsW58trS6

— Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) December 9, 2024

A Look Behind the Curtain

Most interestingly, Milan Kovac, VP of Engineering for Optimus, clarified what it takes to get Optimus to this stage. Let’s break down what he said.

Optimus is Blind

Optimus is getting seriously good at walking now - it can keep its balance over uneven ground - even while walking blind. Tesla is currently using just the sensors, all powered by a neural net running on the embedded computer. 

Essentially, Tesla is building Optimus from the ground up, relying on as much additional data as possible while it trains vision. This is similar to how they train FSD on vehicles, using LiDAR rigs to validate the vision system’s accuracy. While Optimus doesn’t have LiDAR, it relies on all those other sensors on board, many of which will likely become simplified as vision takes over as the primary sensor.

Today, Optimus is walking blind, but it’s able to react almost instantly to changes in the terrain underneath it, even if it falls or slips. 

What’s Next?

Next up, Tesla AI will be adding vision to Optimus - helping complete the neural net. Remember, Optimus runs on the same overall AI stack as FSD - in fact, Optimus uses an FSD computer and an offshoot of the FSD stack for vision-based tasks.

Milan mentions they’re planning on adding vision to help the robot plan ahead and improve its walking gait. While the zombie shuffle is iconic and a little bit amusing, getting humanoid robots to walk like humans is actually difficult.

There’s plenty more, too - including better responsiveness to velocity and direction commands and learning to fall and stand back up. Falling while protecting yourself to minimize damage is something natural to humans - but not exactly natural to something like a robot. Training it to do so is essential in keeping the robot, the environment around it, and the people it is interacting with safe.

We’re excited to see what’s coming with Optimus next because it is already getting started in some fashion in Tesla’s factories.

Follow

Follow

Follow