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Tesla. Love it or hate it, the Palo Alto-based automaker is pushing the automotive industry's envelope on more than one levels. Other than the mind-bending 0 to 60 times and the EPA-rated 315-mile (507 km) range of the P100D, Tesla is entitled to hold its head up high thanks to systematic over-the-air updates.
New or revised software distributed wirelessly is one of, if not the biggest differentiator between Tesla Motors and other EV manufacturers, Chevrolet and Nissan included. And one of the most important constituents of Tesla’s over-the-air updates is represented, of course, by Autopilot development.
Introduced in October 2014 with semi-autonomous driving capability and slated to go full self-driving by the end of 2017, Autopilot will be greatly enhanced by Firmware 8.1. According to Elon Musk, Tesla’s driver assist feature is slated to get better in December “and it will get rolled out incrementally in monthly releases.” Autopilot 8.1 coincides with Tesla’s introduction of SAE Level 5 autonomous driving hardware at the end of October 2016, upping the ante with more and better everything.
What to expect from Autopilot 8.1? According to a release note, we’re in for plenty of goodies. Version 8.1 of Tesla Autopilot is supposed to bring forth an automatic highway exiting feature via the navigation system. In all likelihood, Model S and Model X drivers will need to enter a destination adress for Autopilot and Autosteer to exit the vehicle off the freeway automatically.
Dubbed “Enhanced Autopilot,” Firmware 8.1 “will match speed to traffic conditions, keep within a lane, automatically change lanes without requiring driver input, transition from one freeway to another, exit the freeway when your destination is near, self-park when near a parking spot and be summoned to and from your garage.” Collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking are also due to become available in December 2016.
Introduced in October 2014 with semi-autonomous driving capability and slated to go full self-driving by the end of 2017, Autopilot will be greatly enhanced by Firmware 8.1. According to Elon Musk, Tesla’s driver assist feature is slated to get better in December “and it will get rolled out incrementally in monthly releases.” Autopilot 8.1 coincides with Tesla’s introduction of SAE Level 5 autonomous driving hardware at the end of October 2016, upping the ante with more and better everything.
What to expect from Autopilot 8.1? According to a release note, we’re in for plenty of goodies. Version 8.1 of Tesla Autopilot is supposed to bring forth an automatic highway exiting feature via the navigation system. In all likelihood, Model S and Model X drivers will need to enter a destination adress for Autopilot and Autosteer to exit the vehicle off the freeway automatically.
Dubbed “Enhanced Autopilot,” Firmware 8.1 “will match speed to traffic conditions, keep within a lane, automatically change lanes without requiring driver input, transition from one freeway to another, exit the freeway when your destination is near, self-park when near a parking spot and be summoned to and from your garage.” Collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking are also due to become available in December 2016.
@edwardsanchez about three weeks and it will get rolled out incrementally in monthly releases
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 27, 2016
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