Tesla Sends Out Autopilot Self-Driving Update

Tesla Motors has said for months they had self-driving components available for their vehicles via software update. It appears the time for Tesla Autopilot has arrived.

The Tesla Motors autopilot update arrived for vehicles in North America October 14. The autopilot update is automatic for 60,000 vehicles worldwide, including Model S sedans made after 2014 and all Model X crossover SUVs. The update will allow Tesla vehicles to maintain lanes and a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them. The autopilot also has a self-parking mode, which can find a parking spot and parallel park itself. However, what really makes the system stand out is self-passing mode.

Once a Tesla driver uses the turn signal to declare intent to pass, they take responsibility for the actions of their vehicle, which will detect vehicles in surrounding lanes, and navigate a safe passing maneuver without human driver help. In previous reports, Tesla noted that when a driver declares intent to change lanes by using the turn signal, they are taking on liability for any autopilot lane-changing accident.

The autopilot 7.0 software update also includes a feature called “vehicle hold,” which holds the vehicle in place on steep hills between the time a driver takes his or her foot off the brakes and applies the accelerator. The autopilot update has a side collision-warning feature that will autonomously steer away from veering vehicles and according to Mashable this feature will function even if the driver turns it off in the vehicle system settings.

Speaking about autopilot on a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Tesla Motors CEO, Elon Musk, said, “I think this is going to be quite a profound experience for people. It will change people’s perception of the future quite drastically.” Musk also added that drivers need to keep their hands on the wheel at all times for their safety as the technology is new. He also said older Tesla vehicles that weren’t built with the required autopilot sensors would not be able to have them added retroactively in order to use the semi-autonomous features.

What’s your take on Tesla’s autopilot? Is this a potential automotive game-changer? What do you think of an automaker instantly handing some vehicle control over to a computer using an update?