Tesla is reportedly introducing new Autopilot safety restrictions in the wake of several crashes involving drivers using the automatic steering feature in Tesla Model S and Model X cars.
Version 8.0 of the Autopilot software will automatically disengage if drivers fail to respond to visual and audio warnings instructing them to return their hands to the wheel. In the proposed changes, reported by Electrek, drivers who persistently ignore the autosteer warnings would be unable to re-engage the feature until the car is parked. The other part of the Autopilot software, the traffic-aware cruise control, will not be disengaged.
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The current version of the software sends out regular dashboard warnings telling the driver to 'Hold Steering Wheel'. Once the driver applies pressure to the steering wheel the warnings go away, but if no pressure is detected, the vehicle begins to automatically slow down while the driver is repeatedly instructed to place their hands on the wheel.
At a conference last week, Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk said that version eight of the Autopilot software is "hopefully going to final review right now," though there is no confirmed date for its release. The software update, which Musk described as the "most important UI [user interface] refresh since the launch of the Model S" will apply to the Model S and Model X cars.
Tesla is under pressure to overhaul the safety of its cars following several accidents involving drivers using the Autopilot feature. A driver in Florida died in May after the Autopilot sensors on his Model S reportedly failed to distinguish a white lorry crossing the highway from a bright sky. There have also been two recent accidents involving Tesla's Model X SUV where, according to the company, drivers failed to place their hands on the steering wheel after being warned by the Autopilot software to do so.
Earlier this year, Tesla claimed in a blog post that its Model S P100D will be the "quickest production car in the world" as it can reach speeds of 60mph in just 2.5 seconds. There are two quicker productions cars out there, the LaFerrari and Porsche 918, but, never a company to play down its own hype, Tesla dismissed those cars as "limited run, million-dollar vehicles."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
