Tesla to use internal microphone to detect emergency vehicles and aid in FSD

July 20, 2021

By Nuno Cristovao

As Tesla continues to inch closer to releasing Autopilot on city streets, and one day full self-driving, they need to account for more occurrences on the road. As we talked about briefly, Tesla now detects brake lights on vehicles in the latest beta and will soon also detect turn signals and even hand signals.

Elon has also said that Tesla will soon detect emergency vehicles such as ambulances, police cars and fire trucks. For Tesla to assess the situation properly they will also need to detect whether the vehicle is in an emergency situation so that it can follow proper driving procedures, such as pulling off, stopping at a green traffic light or letting the vehicle pass.

In order for Tesla to be able to do this, they will not only detect the emergency vehicles lights, but will also look for sirens.

Tesla Model 3 interior

Teslas do not currently have external microphones. The only microphones they have currently is the internal one used for voice commands and hands-free calling. Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla will start utilizing the internal microphone to help detect the presence of emergency vehicles.

Listening for sirens may only be the beginning if Tesla is successful in detecting situations using sound alone. What if they could detect other sounds that help the car further understand the environment and the current situation. Maybe listening for car honks, screeching tires or crashing sounds may be helpful. This may even be the start of Tesla adding a “Hey, Tesla”-like wake command to activate the voice-assistant like VW does in their ID vehicles. When Tesla starts to use the microphone for things beyond Bluetooth calling and voice commands, it could open up a whole new door of possibilities.

Action will follow recognition soon thereafter. Also, call will listen for sirens & alarms.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 12, 2021

It’s great to see Tesla moving forward and increasing Autopilot’s capability, but this feature comes with some possible issues. How will Tesla distinguish between real emergency vehicle sounds and sirens coming from music or a ringtone?

The short answer is they probably won’t. In fact, who hasn’t been tricked before when hearing police sirens on the radio only to look around them and realize it’s not real. Tesla appears to be building FSD features based on human abilities, such as seeing and hearing. If a human can do it based on vision and hearing, then why not a machine? Especially if that machine has 360-degrees of vision and the ability to make pinpoint calculations in a fraction of a second.

Cybertruck Deliveries Halted Due to Accelerator Pedal Issue

April 15, 2024

By Kevin Armstrong

Tesla has informed several Cybertruck reservation holders of delays in their delivery schedules. Several notifications were posted on the Cybertruck Owner’s Club, stating the need to postpone scheduled deliveries due to an "unexpected delay" without initially providing detailed explanations to customers.

Technical Issues Identified

However, that is where the Tesla community steps in. More posts on X and the Cybertruck Owner’s Forum revealed that the delays are linked to a design issue with the accelerator pedal of the Cybertruck. Unlike Tesla's other models, which feature a hanging accelerator pedal, the Cybertruck uses a floor-mounted design. This design requires the driver to apply forward and upward motion pressure.

error rrr -

CYBERTRUCK pedal design allows for it to get stuck.

Hope this gets patched 🙏🏽 @Tesla @cybertruck pic.twitter.com/RT0yKGDxH0
— ARTIS (@ARTISSIMULATED) April 14, 2024

It has been determined that the cover of the accelerator pedal can shift out of its designated position when subjected to excessive force. This malfunction has been attributed to the presence of lubricant residues left over from the manufacturing process.

Remedial Actions and Future Plans

Tesla has temporarily halted the delivery of all Cybertrucks and is currently working on a solution to redesign the pedal cover to eliminate lubricant residue. The new, improved covers are expected to be ready by April 19. Tesla plans to replace the faulty components in existing Cybertrucks at Service Centers shortly thereafter.

The company anticipates resuming Cybertruck deliveries on April 20, also known as 4-20. However, due to the pause in deliveries and the time required to distribute the new parts, some customers might experience further delays. Tesla is preparing for a staggered delivery schedule initially due to the limited availability of the newly designed pedal covers.

Despite these setbacks, Tesla continues to scale up the production of the Cybertruck at its Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. Recent aerial footage indicates that production rates have been nearing 1,000 units per week. The Cybertruck has also been featured in promotional events across several countries, including a stop at the Boston Marathon, showcasing its unique design and capabilities.

Tesla Reduces Price of FSD Subscription to $99 Per Month [Subscriptions Now Available in Canada Too!]

April 12, 2024

By Not a Tesla App Staff

Tesla just dropped its FSD subscription pricing dramatically in the U.S., lowering the cost from $199 to $99 per month. However, not everyone is thrilled with the new pricing.

For owners who bought the Enhanced Autopilot package for $6,000 USD, Tesla offered a lower-priced FSD subscription of $99, instead of $199. However, with this new FSD price reduction, EAP owners are no longer receiving a discount.

FSD Subscription Expansion

Currently, the FSD subscription is only available in the U.S., but plans for expansion are underway. Tesla's Rohan Patel recently announced that the subscription will soon be available in Canada, alongside the introduction of an annual plan for Premium Connectivity.

This expansion into the Canadian market is anticipated to follow a similar pricing strategy, adjusted for the currency exchange rate, possibly setting the cost at approximately $140 CAD per month.

Update: Tesla has just announced that FSD subscriptions are now available in Canada! What’s even more surprising is the unexpectedly low subscription price of $99 CAD. Tesla took to X to announce the availability in Canada but unfortunately didn’t reveal any additional information regarding the subscriptions.

Is Buying FSD Still Worth It?

Despite the lowered subscription price, the outright purchase price for FSD remains steep at $12,000. This price point equates to subscribing to the service for over 10 years. Given that the average length of car ownership in the U.S. is about 8 years, this makes the current price of buying FSD unattractive to most. The saving grace of buying FSD is that you know what you're paying for the life of the vehicle and can avoid any potential subscription price increases.

Temporary Reduction or Long-term Strategy?

Tesla has not confirmed whether the price reduction is a temporary promotional tactic or a permanent adjustment. The timing coincides with Tesla's release of FSD v12 and its trial offer, suggesting that the company is keen on encouraging more drivers to experience FSD. This approach not only boosts user engagement but also accelerates the volume of data Tesla can collect to improve the system.

FSD With Referral Credits

Although Tesla hasn't adjusted the price of buying FSD, it is tweaking its referral program to accommodate the new price. Three months of FSD are now available through Tesla's referral program for 6,000 credits, reduced from the previous 12,000 credits.

Tesla's reduction in FSD in the U.S. and its planned expansion into Canada reflect a strategic initiative to make FSD more accessible and financially attractive to a broader audience. There's no doubt this change will increase the number of FSD subscriptions, but it'll be interesting to see how much. To break even, Tesla would need to double the number of subscriptions, but they likely have their eyes set much higher.

If you currently subscribe to FSD, Tesla has automatically reduced future payments to the lower $99 price point.