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Cybertruck Crash Raises Alarm Bells About Tesla's Self-Driving Software
(Reuters) - A crash involving a Tesla Cybertruck in self-driving mode this week has sparked worries about the reliability of the company's software that powers the feature, days after CEO Elon Musk said he would roll out a paid robotaxi service this year. The pickup, the latest model in Tesla's lineup, failed to merge out of a lane that was ending, hit the curb and crashed into a pole in Nevada's Reno city while on its Full Self-Driving feature, which still requires a human in control behind the wheel. "Don't make the same mistake I did. Pay attention. It is easy to get complacent now - don't," the driver Jonathan Challinger said on social media platform X tagging Musk. "Spread my message and help save others from the same fate or far worse." The driver reported that there were unknown mechanical issues that caused the vehicle to leave the lane and hit the pole, according to a police report seen by Reuters. Tesla has for years faced criticism and investigations over the safety of its advanced driver assistance software following several crashes, including a fatal one. But Musk late last month said people skeptical of the technology should try it now, touting the "immense improvement" in the safety profile of its latest iteration called Version 13. The latest Cybertruck accident - which has gone viral on social media - is a warning sign about the safety of the technology and Tesla's readiness to take the driver out, according to autonomous vehicle technology experts. "The race is on a technology which is not ready for deployment," said Saber Fallah, professor of Safe AI and Autonomy at the University of Surrey. "Lane endings, merges, and sudden road layout changes remain problematic for AI-driven systems, which lack the cognitive adaptability of human drivers," he said. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on the crash. Musk said Tesla will start testing paid ride-hailing service by June in Austin, Texas - a state with almost no regulatory requirements for autonomous vehicles - followed by California and other U.S. regions by the end of the year. A successful deployment of robotaxis is crucial for Tesla as it grapples with a broader slowdown in demand for its aging lineup of EVs, while investors bet heavily on Musk's pivot to robotics and AI for future growth. Unlike other automakers, which use redundant technologies for safety, Tesla's approach relies only on cameras, making it cheaper but also riskier in challenging visibility conditions, such as heavy rain, snow or fog, according to experts. The accident shows there are problems with FSD's nighttime detection abilities, data mapping and vision-only approach, researcher Troy Teslike, who closely tracks Tesla sales and technologies, said on X. "FSD doesn't seem ready for driverless operation yet," he said. (Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
[2]
Cybertruck crash raises alarm bells about Tesla's self-driving software
(Reuters) - A crash involving a Tesla Cybertruck in self-driving mode this week has sparked worries about the reliability of the company's software that powers the feature, days after CEO Elon Musk said he would roll out a paid robotaxi service this year. The pickup, the latest model in Tesla's lineup, failed to merge out of a lane that was ending, hit the curb and crashed into a pole in Nevada's Reno city while on its Full Self-Driving feature, which still requires a human in control behind the wheel. "Don't make the same mistake I did. Pay attention. It is easy to get complacent now - don't," the driver Jonathan Challinger said on social media platform X tagging Musk. "Spread my message and help save others from the same fate or far worse." The driver reported that there were unknown mechanical issues that caused the vehicle to leave the lane and hit the pole, according to a police report seen by Reuters. Tesla has for years faced criticism and investigations over the safety of its advanced driver assistance software following several crashes, including a fatal one. But Musk late last month said people skeptical of the technology should try it now, touting the "immense improvement" in the safety profile of its latest iteration called Version 13. The latest Cybertruck accident - which has gone viral on social media - is a warning sign about the safety of the technology and Tesla's readiness to take the driver out, according to autonomous vehicle technology experts. "The race is on a technology which is not ready for deployment," said Saber Fallah, professor of Safe AI and Autonomy at the University of Surrey. "Lane endings, merges, and sudden road layout changes remain problematic for AI-driven systems, which lack the cognitive adaptability of human drivers," he said. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on the crash. Musk said Tesla will start testing paid ride-hailing service by June in Austin, Texas - a state with almost no regulatory requirements for autonomous vehicles - followed by California and other U.S. regions by the end of the year. A successful deployment of robotaxis is crucial for Tesla as it grapples with a broader slowdown in demand for its aging lineup of EVs, while investors bet heavily on Musk's pivot to robotics and AI for future growth. Unlike other automakers, which use redundant technologies for safety, Tesla's approach relies only on cameras, making it cheaper but also riskier in challenging visibility conditions, such as heavy rain, snow or fog, according to experts. The accident shows there are problems with FSD's nighttime detection abilities, data mapping and vision-only approach, researcher Troy Teslike, who closely tracks Tesla sales and technologies, said on X. "FSD doesn't seem ready for driverless operation yet," he said. (Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
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A Tesla Cybertruck crash in self-driving mode has sparked debates about the safety and readiness of autonomous vehicle technology, just as Tesla plans to launch a robotaxi service.
A recent incident involving a Tesla Cybertruck operating in self-driving mode has reignited debates about the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicle technology. The crash, which occurred in Reno, Nevada, has raised questions about Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and its readiness for widespread deployment 12.
The Cybertruck, Tesla's latest model, failed to navigate a merging lane situation, resulting in a collision with a curb and a pole. The driver, Jonathan Challinger, was using the vehicle's Full Self-Driving feature at the time of the accident. Challinger took to social media to warn other Tesla owners, stating, "Don't make the same mistake I did. Pay attention. It is easy to get complacent now - don't" 12.
Experts in autonomous vehicle technology have pointed out several issues with Tesla's approach:
Lane navigation: The incident highlights ongoing challenges with AI-driven systems handling complex road scenarios such as lane endings and merges 1.
Vision-only approach: Unlike other automakers that use redundant technologies, Tesla's reliance solely on cameras for its self-driving system may pose risks in challenging visibility conditions 12.
Nighttime detection: The accident has raised concerns about FSD's ability to function effectively in low-light situations 2.
Professor Saber Fallah from the University of Surrey commented, "The race is on a technology which is not ready for deployment," emphasizing the gap between AI capabilities and human cognitive adaptability 12.
The crash comes at a critical time for Tesla:
Robotaxi service: CEO Elon Musk recently announced plans to launch a paid robotaxi service, starting in Austin, Texas, by June 12.
Market pressure: Tesla faces a slowdown in demand for its electric vehicles, making the success of its autonomous driving technology crucial for future growth 12.
Regulatory landscape: The company plans to test its robotaxi service in Texas, a state with minimal regulatory requirements for autonomous vehicles 1.
This incident is not isolated, as Tesla has faced criticism and investigations over the safety of its advanced driver assistance software in the past. Despite these concerns, Musk has touted "immense improvement" in the latest version (Version 13) of the FSD software 12.
The viral nature of the Cybertruck crash on social media has amplified the debate about the readiness of self-driving technology for public roads. As Tesla pushes forward with its ambitious plans, the incident serves as a reminder of the challenges and potential risks associated with the rapid deployment of autonomous driving systems 12.
Reference
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Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology is under scrutiny as safety concerns mount and doubts arise about its launch schedule. Recent analysis casts doubt on the system's readiness for widespread deployment.
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