A Tesla Model S on was recently able to drive over one of Vienna’s most challenging roads while on Autopilot 2.0. Despite the streets being old, cobblestoned, unmarked, filled with bends, and narrow, the AP2.0 Model S with software update v8.1 2018.10.4 was able to handle the road without any problems.
The impressive video of the Model S’ feat was uploaded to YouTube by Robby Robson, a Tesla enthusiast from Austria. According to Robson, he took his vehicle to Höhenstrasse, a hilly, usually windy, old road in the hills of Vienna. On a post in the r/TeslaMotors subreddit, the Model S owner even noted that the streets of Höhenstrasse are among the “crappiest” in his area. Despite these, however, Robson stated that his electric car still performed “like a champ” during the drive.
Tesla’s latest version of Autopilot has been getting rave reviews from Tesla owners worldwide, with drivers lauding the vehicles’ refined driver-assist features. With the latest update, some of AP2.0’s prior weaknesses, such as driving over roads with poor visibility, lane-changing, lane-keeping, and handling roads without lanes, have been addressed and improved.
Just recently, we reported on a Tesla Model S with v8.1 2018.10.4 escaping a possible head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle. The incident, which happened in Switzerland, involved a Volkswagen Beetle carelessly overtaking a slow-moving tractor just as the Model S was driving by. Seconds before the incident, the Model S’ Forward Collision kicked in, warning the driver that a head-on crash might happen.
The driver of the Model S in Switzerland credits Tesla for the improvements to its AP2.0 suite, stating that the system’s array of cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and radar all helped his vehicle in detecting the possible accident. The entire process only took a few seconds, but it was those few seconds that ultimately determined if the Model S driver would escape harm or not.
The noteworthy improvement of v8.1 2018.10.4 to Autopilot 2.0’s performance is something that is many months in the making. In a letter to shareholders last year, Tesla mentioned that it is making progress in its AP2.0 suite’s artificial intelligence and neural tech technology, which allows the cars to learn from other Teslas on the road. These AI and neural net initiatives were further mentioned in Tesla’s Q4 2017 update latter, where the company indicated that an “overhaul” of its AP2.0 software had been completed. Tesla AI Director Andrej Karpathy also announced on Twitter after the release of v8.1 2018.10.4 that the software’s current version was the result of a “fairly extensive” rewrite.
Based on shared videos of Tesla’s latest Autopilot software in action, it appears that the Elon Musk-led company’s intelligent driver-assist feature is well on its way to becoming almost as good as a careful human driver. Tesla’s refinements in its software are just one side of the coin, however, as the company is also looking into producing its own hardware. As we noted last December, Elon Musk announced that Tesla is currently looking into the development of custom AI chips for its fleet.
Watch Robby Robson’s Model S tackle one of Vienna’s “crappiest” roads on Autopilot below.
Interested in solar? Get a solar cost estimate and find out how much a solar system would cost for your home or business.
Recommended for you
Top Rated Comments (view all)
Discuss: Model S
Join the discussion…
Log in with:
Or sign up with TESLARATI:
0 likes 4 days ago
0 likes 4 days ago
Great system.
It can navigate narrow bridges and crap roads.
Smash into disabled vehicles, barrier posts, tractor trailers, and bridge abutments.
…
Can the AP overcome this?
Yes, they seem to be good at lane keeping, now they must detect objects in the road in front of the car. Odd priority, I would have thought that object detection would be highest priority.
0 likes 3 days ago
0 likes 3 days ago
Great system.
It can navigate narrow bridges and crap roads.
Smash into disabled vehicles, barrier posts, tractor trailers, and bridge abutments.
The bodies of dead TESLA owners who were lacking the gray matter to use this system wisely and safely are beginning to fill the morgue .
Looking forward to TESLA ‹ S legal defense of the latest unfortunate mishap.
I STILL have mine disabled..
& 100% accident free .
Use AP at your own peril.
Now back to TESLA for another recall .Corroded steering bolts resulting in loss of steering assist and vehicle control.
Can the AP overcome this?
The system is maybe 10 years old at best and has come a long way since its inception. Humans have been driving for over 100 years and still crash, die, drink, get distracted, have eye problems, muscle pains, stress, no patience, and overall are terrible drivers.
