2022.24.6 is updating vehicles to Tesla Vision, although you may have missed it

Tesla is continuing to transition cars to Tesla Vision

@TeslaStars

Tesla recently started rolling out update 2022.24.6. Although we'd expect this update to only contain minor fixes, similarly to 2022.20.9, it contains a big feature that is sort of hidden.

With update 2022.24.6 Tesla is continuing its transition to Tesla Vision for radar-based vehicles, although at first glance it can be easily missed. 2022.24 updates prior to 2022.24.6 do not include Tesla Vision.

Tesla first started transitioning some vehicles to Tesla Vision with 2022.20.9, although ironically the feature was titled "Speed Assist" in that release, but the description was clear that the vehicle was moving to Tesla Vision.

Tesla hacker @Greentheonly speculates that Tesla is first transitioning vehicles that are showing some issues with radar. Although with 2022.24.6 Tesla appears to be transitioning additional vehicles.

The transition to Tesla Vision is sort of going out in "stealth" mode. Since Tesla Vision was initially released in 2022.20.9, it's a part of Tesla's 2022.20 features. After an update is installed in a vehicle, Tesla will automatically bring up the release notes for the given release (2022.24), which means that Tesla Vision won't be listed even if your vehicle was transitioned.

In order to see whether your vehicle has transitioned to Tesla Vision, you will need to open the full release notes by navigating to Controls > Software and tapping on Release Notes.

These release notes will display all features, including those for previous updates as well. If your vehicle was transitioned to Tesla Vision, you will see "Tesla Vision Update" listed under 2022.20.

With the transition to Tesla Vision, Tesla appears to have greatly reduce its reliance on radar. It's not clear exactly how often Tesla is using radar or in what situations, but it appears to be reduced to emergency features such as Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warnings, but it could be used in other situations as well.

Although Tesla is relying on vision much more after this update, there are still situations that have been shown that radar hasn't been completely disabled.

The transition to Tesla Vision has been somewhat of a mixed bag. Some owners are excited to be transitioning to Tesla Vision, which is clearly the future for Tesla and the direction they're going to continue moving in, however other owners aren't quite as excited by vision-based limitations.

Two shortcomings that come with Tesla Vision for everyone are reduced maximum speed while on Autopilot, which is reduced from 90 MPH to 85 MPH (140 KPH), and a minimum follow distance of two.

The maximum follow distance remains the same at seven. Radar-equipped vehicles allow you to go as close as one car length.

These two limitations of Tesla Vision are unlikely to affect the majority of owners, but it will vary on location and the maximum speeds in your area.

Some owners are reporting that their vehicle is smoother with Tesla Vision and they're even experiencing less phantom braking, however, not everyone's experience has been the same.

So let us know, did your vehicle transition to Tesla Vision with update 2022.24.6? Let us know your thoughts in our forums below.

Tesla Is Now Offering Cybertruck Test Drives [List of Locations]

@brandonhd

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.

Once FSD V12.5 comes to the Cybertruck, we’re sure they’ll be demoing its capabilities FSD capabilities as well.

Locations

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.

• Manhasset, New York

• West Covina, California

• Los Angeles, California

• Houston, Texas

• Orlando, Florida

• Westmont, Illinois

• Tucson, Arizona

• Phoenix, Arizona

• Delaware

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Musk Confirms 'Actually Smart Summon' is Coming in a Revision of FSD V12.5

Not a Tesla App

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.

Just recently, Tesla returned the Model X’s self-presenting doors, using Tesla Vision. Vision has seen some fantastic improvements, and many people are waiting for ASS to bring forth these improvements to Smart Summon.

Smart Summon Today

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 10^th 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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