If your Tesla is not recognizing objects correctly, if it appears to be performing abnormally, or if you're receiving errors related to your cameras or Autopilot, you may want to calibrate your vehicle's cameras.
The process may take a while to complete, but it's quick and easy to begin.
The cabin camera does not directly impact Autopilot’s performance while engaged. Instead, it’s solely used to help monitor the driver and confirm that they're paying attention while Autopilot is engaged.
Tesla initially equipped its vehicles with ultrasonic sensors, but the Austin-based automotive company is transitioning its vehicles to leverage Tesla Vision exclusively. In 2022 Tesla begin to omit ultrasonic sensors entirely and now uses the vehicle’s cameras exclusively.
How to Calibrate Your Tesla’s Cameras
To calibrate your vehicle's cameras, follow the steps below. Keep in mind that although you can drive your vehicle immediately after performing these steps, some features that depend on the vehicle's cameras will not be available until after calibration is completed.
Go to “Controls” (the car icon)
Tap “Service”
Tap “Camera Calibration”
Once you’ve tapped “Camera Calibration,” a warning message will pop up with the following text:
“Clearing the Autopilot camera calibration will reset the calibrated camera positions and angles stored on the Autopilot computer. This procedure should only be performed if the cameras have been moved due to a windshield or camera replacement. Clearing calibration will result in no Autopilot features until the system recalibrates, which may take up to 100 miles of driving on roads with highly-visible lane lines.”
When you’re ready, tap “Clear Calibration.”
Note: If possible, drive on a long straight road with multiple lanes (like a controlled-access highway) with easily visible lane markings for quicker and more accurate calibration. According to Tesla, “Clear Calibration may not resolve all camera and sensor concerns.”
How Long Does It Take to Calibrate the Cameras?
The blue ring around the Autopilot icon will show you the progress of your camera calibration
Not a Tesla App
First, you will not be able to use Full Self-Driving, Enhanced Autopilot, or Basic Autopilot. These will all be disabled while the cameras are recalibrated.
The steering wheel icon that previously showed whether Autopilot was engaged will now show a blue ring. As the vehicle gathers data and the software adjusts, the ring will adjust to show the calibration progress. Although it may take up to 100 miles of driving to calibrate your cameras, it's usually much quicker. To be safe, you should plan for the calibration process to take 2-3 hours of driving to complete.
Camera Calibration Stuck at 99%
The ring may get to 99% complete and then get 'stuck.' This is normal. Be patient and allow the car to complete the process. It will resolve itself and the vehicle will notify you when calibration is complete.
If after a few drives and more than 100 miles the recalibration is still stuck, contact Tesla to set up a service appointment. They’ll be able to determine whether the issue is software or hardware-related. Tesla may be able to diagnose your vehicle remotely and push an update to help fix any issues.
Why Do Cameras Need to be Calibrated?
The cameras placed strategically around the vehicle need to be aligned perfectly in order to function properly. Each video feed from the cameras is joined together to form a 360-degree view of the vehicle’s environment. If there's a gap between cameras or an extension overlap, it could cause the vehicle to not see certain areas or see "double." It’s like taking multiple pictures with your phone and then stitching them together. It’s how astronomers edit and stitch pictures together from the James Webb Space Telescope.
The calibration process doesn't actually move the cameras, but instead, it crops and adjusts each camera's feed so that the vehicle sees a single unified image. That’s why the slightest millimeter of miscalibration could cause issues.
What Does Recalibrating Tesla’s Cameras Fix?
Recalibrating the cameras in your Tesla may fix a number of things, including phantom braking, inability to properly detect surrounding objects, Autopilot faults, and various error messages.
Tesla states in their Model 3 instruction manual that a few limitations may cause Autopilot’s functionality to be limited. They include:
Poor visibility (due to heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.).
Bright light (due to oncoming headlights, direct sunlight, etc.).
Damage or obstructions caused by mud, ice, snow, etc.
Interference or obstruction by object(s) mounted onto the vehicle (such as a bike rack).
Obstruction caused by applying excessive paint or adhesive products (such as wraps, stickers, rubber coating, etc.) onto the vehicle.
Narrow or winding roads.
A damaged or misaligned body panel.
Use of gray or aftermarket glass.
Interference from other equipment that generates ultrasonic waves.
Extremely hot or cold temperatures.
If you've just received delivery of your Tesla, your vehicle may still be calibrating its cameras. Look for the blue ring around the Autopilot icon to see if your vehicle is still calibrating its cameras.
Hopefully, after recalibrating your cameras, the issues you were experiencing are fixed. Although recalibrating your cameras does not fix all issues, it's usually a good first step to try.
As always, if you continue to experience issues, you should schedule an appointment with Tesla service through the Tesla app.
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Tesla has consistently demonstrated a commitment to high-quality audio hardware in its vehicles. The sound engineers go through a thorough design process - including integrating the subwoofer’s sound flow through the Cybertruck’s hollow body sections. Tesla offers, by and far, one of the best OEM audio experiences in its price range.
However, physical components and engineering magic aside, the current software that drives Tesla’s audio experience is sub-par when compared to higher-end audio systems on the market. It falls short of delivering truly spatial, three-dimensional audio that many audiophiles and even discerning casual listeners have come to appreciate from the likes of $100 earbuds with spatial audio support from their cell phones.
This really feels like a missed opportunity, especially when Tesla used to offer “Dolby Surround” in the past.
Immersive Sound… Kind Of
Tesla’s proprietary Immersive Sound option widens the sound stage by creating a surround-sound-like effect within the vehicle. It has evolved over the years from a simple “Off/Standard/High” to include slightly more granular control, as well as an Auto mode that intelligently adjusts the level of immersion based on the content being played.
For many, including myself, the experience often feels more like an improved stereo field rather than a genuine multi-dimensional soundscape. Even when set to High and paired with Hi-Fi downloaded music from sources like TIDAL, Immersive Sound struggles to open up the sound stage. The sense of height and precise placement of individual sound sources - hallmarks of spatial audio - are missing, leading to an audio presentation that, while clear and powerful, ultimately feels a little flat.
In reality, Immersive Sound often just turns on the A-pillar speakers and uses them for a wider set of sounds than they are normally used for, which really feels rather disappointing.
A good example is Imagine Dragons’ song Believer. Try listening to it with Immersive Sound on, and then off. If you’ve got headphones with Spatial Sound / Dolby Atmos support, try listening to the same song there. You’ll find a world of difference.
The Gold Standard: Dolby Atmos
Technology like Dolby Atmos has become the gold standard for listening to spatial audio - and represents a substantial step above traditional “Surround Sound” and Tesla’s current Immersive Sound. Dolby Atmos does a lot to achieve that truly three-dimensional audio experience.
They use object-based audio, where sounds are treated as individual objects that can be placed and moved precisely in a 3D space rather than being confined to specific channels, like with 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound. They also include a vertical dimension, making the sound feel like it’s coming from above, below, or all around. This is done through dedicated processing (and sometimes dedicated down-facing speakers) to render the sound in a fully 3D space.
All that, alongside the ability to render complex mixes like 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound with exceptional clarity, means that individual instruments and vocal layers maintain their distinction.
The overall result is a refined listening experience that is genuine, more engaging, and compelling. It isn’t just better for music too - it makes video content consumption better with spatial sound matching what’s being displayed on-screen.
Amazing Hardware Deserves Amazing Software
Tesla’s investment in custom-engineered audio systems is commendable. The 17 speakers in the Cybertruck represent one of the best OEM-designed speaker arrays capable of producing detailed and dynamic sound.
However, this amazing hardware is being asked to perform an orchestra with one hand tied behind its back. Without the extra spatial rendering capabilities of an industry standard like Dolby Atmos, we may as well only have five speakers. Tesla isn’t taking full advantage of the great hardware in these vehicles by letting the software lag behind.
Implementation
The barrier to entry for true surround sound may not be as high as some imagine; for perspective, a consumer license for Dolby Atmos on a PC is remarkably affordable - only $14.99. While commercial automotive licensing is on a different scale, this illustrates that access to the core technology isn't inherently prohibitive, suggesting it's more a matter of prioritization for Tesla.
Some might perceive the engineering effort to implement and tune true spatial audio as immense, but it's worth noting that advancements in calibration are constantly being made. For example, in a controlled home environment, initial spatial sound system tuning can sometimes be accomplished in as little as an hour.
Naturally, the acoustic complexity and variability of a car interior demand a more involved process, but for a company with Tesla's engineering prowess, creating an exceptional in-car spatial audio experience is well within reach and arguably less of a monumental task than many might think.
This isn’t just about satisfying those with a particular ear for sound - a truly exceptional spatial sound system like Atmos, or at least a functional in-house one that genuinely matches its capabilities, would be a huge bonus for Tesla’s flagship vehicles. It would help to elevate the experience, especially as Tesla continues to narrow the premium feel between their flagship vehicles and their everyday vehicles.
Tesla builds vehicles with some of the most impressive audio hardware on the market, so there’s no reason not to match this with the most impressive audio software. Let’s bring back Dolby surround sound support.
Tesla recently announced plans to onshore Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery production to the United States, and those plans are starting to come together in light of a new patent on LFP chemistries. The newly published patent, WO2024/229047 A1, reveals that Tesla, along with a team including renowned battery researcher Jeff Dahn from Dalhousie University (who has made significant contributions to advancing lithium-ion battery technology, including LFP for Tesla), is developing an improved LFP-based cathode material. This “boosted” LFP will likely be the foundation for future US-made Tesla vehicles.
LFP batteries are already a part of Tesla’s strategy for its Standard Range vehicles and energy storage products. They are prized for their lower cost (by avoiding expensive nickel and cobalt), long cycle life, and ability to charge to 100% without damaging the battery. By bringing LFP production to the US, Tesla could tap into domestic incentives and avoid potential tariffs. This new patent suggests that Tesla isn’t just planning on bringing LFP production to the U.S., but that it’s also looking to improve it.
LFP with a Pinch of Nickel
The core of the patent describes a “blended cathode active material.” This involves taking a standard iron phosphate-based material, like LiFePO4 or LFP, and potentially Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate, LMFP, which forms the vast majority of the cathode - about 90-99% by weight. Then, adding in a small, carefully controlled amount of nickel oxide-based active material, such as NMC or NCA, typically between 0.1-15% or as lean as 0.1-3% by weight.
The approach isn’t just a simple mix; the patent details crucial pre-processing steps for the nickel-based component. This includes surface area processing like milling to increase its surface area and heating it to temperatures between 650°C and 800°C. These steps are designed to reduce lithium-containing impurities (like LiOH and Li2CO3) in the nickel material, which can be detrimental to battery performance.
Why Blended?
The goal of this LFP-Nickel blend is to increase LFP battery performance. In particular, the patent is targeting improved capacity retention and increased lifetime cycles. The extensive data presented in the patent shows that cells made with this blended cathode exhibit several key advantages over standard LFP cells.
Improved Capacity Retention: The blended cathodes demonstrated a better ability to hold charge over many cycles with tests showing blended cells retaining over 90% capacity after 7,000 hours of cycling at 40°C in some configurations.
Improved Cycle Lifetime: The batteries could endure more charge and discharge cycles while maintaining output voltage, which is key for vehicle lifespans.
Better High-Temperature Performance: Testing at higher temperatures, including up to 70°C showed superior stability and capacity retention.
Reduced Degradation: A fascinating finding highlighted in the patent is that the blend appears to reduce the dissolution of iron from the LFP material, which can then deposit on the anode and hinder long-term performance. The blended cells showed less iron deposition on the anode after extensive cycling.
Lower Internal Resistance Growth: Finally, these new cathodes showed more stable internal resistance over time compared to pure LFP cells, especially at higher temperatures.
By incorporating just a small fraction of the higher-energy nickel material, Tesla hopes to improve LFP battery longevity and improve charge rates without increasing the cost of these batteries, which is one of their most appealing qualities.
Impact on Charging Performance
The patent doesn't explicitly focus on achieving dramatically faster charging speeds as its primary outcome, with most cycling tests conducted at moderate C-rates like C/3*. However, the findings offer strong indicators that charging performance would also be improved.
While the patent doesn't claim a new "fast charge" LFP chemistry outright, the inherent improvements in material stability and resistance characteristics suggest that these blended LFP cells could offer more robust and reliable charging performance.
* C-rates are a measure of how quickly a battery can charge. 1C means the battery can be fully charged in an hour, while C/3 means 33% per hour.
Domestic LFP
This patented technology could be the key to Tesla's US LFP production. It offers a pathway to manufacturing LFP cells that are not only domestically sourced but also offer a tangible performance improvement over conventional LFP chemistries. This could give Tesla a competitive edge, allowing them to offer LFP-powered vehicles and energy products with better longevity, durability, and potentially even slightly better performance characteristics in demanding conditions.
This is especially important today, as Tesla no longer sells vehicles with LFP batteries in the United States and North America due to tariffs. The only LFP battery items they sell within North America are Megapack and Powerwall, which are both excluded from tariffs (and incentives) due to their nature as stationary energy products.
As Tesla continues to innovate across the battery spectrum, from raw materials processing to cell design and manufacturing, innovations like this blended cathode could play an important role in the next generation of more affordable and durable electric vehicles and energy storage solutions.
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