Tesla to disable 'self-driving' feature that allowed vehicles to roll past stop signs at junctions
- Reference: 1643741947
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/02/01/tesla_stop_sign_feature/
- Source link:
[1]
Aerial view of an all-way stop
According to recall documents on America's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website
[2]PDF
, Tesla has agreed to disable the feature via an over-the-air (OTA) software update. It is expected to begin deploying the update to affected vehicles in the next week or so.It appears Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Beta) software included a feature that emulates driver behavior found to be common in some places in the US, but which is also against the law in most if not all states.
This is the practice of slowing to a crawl at a junction, and not actually coming to a complete halt. Instead, the driver is able to pick up speed again if the way is clear.
However, the NHTSA has taken the view that failing to halt for a stop sign at junctions could increase the risk of a crash, and sought meetings with Tesla to get it to change this feature. According to the documents, this covers the 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles.
[3]
The [4]Associated Press reports that Selected Tesla drivers are effectively being allowed to beta test the Full Self-Driving software on public roads, as long as the owner enables the function.
[5]SiC move: STMicroelectronics banks on bringing power electronics material in house as electric cars rev up
[6]Idea of downloading memories far-fetched say experts after Musk claim resurfaces in latest Neuralink development
[7]Tesla driver charged with vehicular manslaughter after deadly Autopilot crash
[8]Tesla Full Self-Driving videos prompt California's DMV to rethink policy on accidents
Once enabled, the Tesla would be able to go through an all-way stop junction without coming to a complete halt. It would have to be traveling below 5.6 MPH (9 KPH) while approaching the junction, so long as no moving cars, pedestrians or bicyclists are detected nearby.
The incident is just the latest in the long-running saga of Tesla and its driver assistance software support. Last month, a [9]Tesla driver was charged with vehicular manslaughter after a crash in Los Angeles in which the vehicle's Autopilot mode was engaged.
[10]
Last year, five police officers filed a lawsuit against Tesla after a [11]Model X ploughed into two parked police cars in Texas, and Tesla was [12]forced to pull the Full Self-Driving software from vehicles that were testing it after a number of issues were found.
Tesla has previously insisted that its vehicles are not capable of fully autonomous driving: "The currently enabled Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous." ®
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[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2022/02/01/shutterstock_all_way.jpg
[2] https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2022/RCLRPT-22V037-4462.PDF
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Yfm7l4bQPN0Fg40xaIj4PwAAAAQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://apnews.com/article/tesla-recall-full-self-driving-software-e23d252ac5164cb0e7af776625b15180
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/01/stmicroelectronics_supply_chain/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/31/neuralink_job_ad/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/19/tesla_manslaughter_autopilot/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/15/in_brief_ai/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/19/tesla_manslaughter_autopilot/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Yfm7l4bQPN0Fg40xaIj4PwAAAAQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/28/texas_model_x_tesla_lawsuit/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/25/tesla_fsd/
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Not a "bug"
"software included a feature that emulates driver behaviour found to be common in some places in the US"
I wonder when they will next implement getting super angry and tailgating whist honking like mad when cut off?
Re: Not a "bug"
Common behaviour is not always legal, or indeed safe or sensible. The 'feature' that allowed Tesla cars to travel through red lights and stop signs without actually stopping reminded me of a Rolling Stones lyric:
"You always have the Lord by your side.
And I was so impressed by this that I ran twenty red lights in his honour.."*
The fact that Tesla decided to enable a feature that allowed illegal and potentially dangerous behaviour in its 'self driving' modes will doubtless exercise the lawyers and AI ethicists.
* 'Faraway Eyes' Probably not quite correct but you get the gist.
Re: Not a "bug"
Yeah, yeah, it's a feature. We saw it as a bug - as in, software operating as we wouldn't expect it to - but it is technically a feature so we've fixed up the article accordingly.
C.
Re: Not a "bug"
Definitively not a bug, Tesla not only think they're above the law, they also seem to think they can rewrite the law. Regulators are being way too lenient with that antisocial company.
Deactivate the ...
... 'Karen' mode.
Re: Deactivate the ...
Enough already of your stupid discrimination.
Full Self-Driving
Not sure what all the fuss is about this feature. I've been self-driving cars for decades :-)
Because that's what it means, isn't it? The alternative would mean the car drives itself, which it clearly doesn't. If the car drove itself, the people in the car would all be passengers.
Re: Full Self-Driving
"The alternative would mean the car drives itself"
Like some kind of autoautomobile, you mean?
Not a "bug"
This was deliberate on Tesla's part for the "aggressive" driving profile, but NHTSA called them out on it.