Tesla may release more detailed vehicle visualizations soon

AI Day 2 FSD Visualizations

Tesla AI day 2

During AI Day 2, Tesla showed off video of some of their latest FSD work. These video clips featured vehicle models that were much more detailed than the models in the current FSD Beta.

Tesla last updated the models used in their visualization with FSD Beta 10.12 (2022.12.3.10), which was released this past May.

Tesla then rolled out those visualizations to non-beta versions starting with update 2022.16.

The updated visualizations were completely redesigned and are now more realistic than the previous models they replaced. The sedan now have wheels, windows and a glass roof, instead of the previous model that resembled a Model S keyfob.

Tesla also started visualizing open doors, turn signals and added a new visualization for brake lights.

However, these new visualizations featured during AI day 2 appear even more detailed.

The video from Tesla AI day 2 includes various sizes of trucks, sedans and SUVs that have more accurately represented doors, windows, glass roofs, and wheels.

For example, you can make out the headlights on vehicles, mud flaps on trucks and even the rear door latches on semi trucks.

It's still not clear whether these updated visualizations are something Tesla was testing, an earlier version of the visualizations that eventually arrived in the 2022.16 update or a newer visualizations that will arrive in a future update.

If Tesla decided to implement these new visualizations, they may also take up significantly more resources, which begs the question whether they'd apply to all MCU versions.

Although the visualizations are not tied to what the vehicle can detect and react to, they provide a criticial role in letting the driver know what the vehicle can see.

Tesla may be pushing out some improvements to Tesla Vision in the near future, as Tesla recently announced that they will no longer integrate ultrasonic sensors (USS) into their vehicles, starting with the Model 3 and Model Y this month.

This major announcement came after the company removed the radar sensor from it's Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in May of 2021 and more recently in the Model S and Model X.

Since the removal of radar, Tesla has made significant progress with its vision-based system. Tesla's vision-based occupancy network will now replace inputs generated by USS.

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