Fan created concept reimagines the Tesla UI

February 9, 2022

By Nuno Cristovao

A YouTuber has recently posted a new UI concept that doesn't only improve v11, but reimagines the entire visualization area and the app launcher.

Tesla UI concept

Cyber Owners/YT

The ideas in the concept are new and different from anything we've seen from Tesla or other concepts, but they're clear and intuitive.

For example, the current speed, Autopilot max speed, and Autopilot icon are all grouped together. It lets you easily tell whether Autopilot is activated.

The Autopilot icon will even change color if the car thinks you're not paying attention. The warning is much more visible and I think it's more accurate representation of what the warning is for.

Tesla's current v11 UI

I also like how the navigation directions are larger and closer to the driver instead of overlaid on the map. This cleans up the map area and brings crucial information closer to the driver.

The UI also brings the AutoShift feature to the Model 3 and Y, something that Elon has said Tesla will do. However, it brings it in a way that doesn't take up a ton of screen real estate as it does on the Model S.

App Launcher

The launcher at the bottom, while it could use a better design as the author admits, it does bring several interesting concepts to the table.

In addition to being able to add seat heaters and more to the launcher, it also gives you the ability to add entire categories to the launcher, such as Music or Tesla Arcade. So that you can pick between having a category like Tesla Theater in the launcher or a specific app like Netflix, depending on what you use the most.

The All Apps button is well thought out as well, apps are grouped together in a category, instead of listing every app in a grid.

Tesla UI Concept

Driver Profiles and Trunk Buttons

The buttons open/close that are usually overlaid on top of the car visualization are brought down to be directly above the launcher. This isn't a big change, but I do feel that adding Driver Profiles to this area makes sense since it belongs with other car settings.

This is a well-thought-out concept that brings new and interesting ideas to the table. Hopefully, some Tesla employees take a look at the concept and consider some of the ideas introduced here.

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

December 14, 2024

By Karan Singh

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.

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

December 13, 2024

By Karan Singh

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.