Tesla's Self-Driving System Involved in Fatal Motorcycle Crash Near Seattle

Tesla in Seattle-area crash that killed motorcyclist was using...

Authorities in Washington have determined that a Tesla that hit and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle in April was operating on the company's "Full Self Driving" system at the time of the crash. Investigators from the Washington State Patrol made the discovery after downloading information from the event-data recorder on the 2022 Tesla Model S, agency spokesman Capt. Deion Glover said Tuesday. "The investigation is still ongoing in this case," Glover said in an email to The Associated Press. The Snohomish County Prosecutor will determine if any charges are filed in the case, he said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that "Full Self Driving" should be able to run without human supervision by the end of this year. He has been promising a fleet of robotaxis for several years. During the company's earnings conference call, he acknowledged that his predictions on the issue "have been overly optimistic in the past." A message was left Tuesday seeking comment from Tesla. After the crash in a suburban area about 15 miles northeast of Seattle, the driver told a trooper that he was using Tesla's Autopilot system and looked at his cellphone while the Tesla was moving. "The next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," the trooper wrote in a probable-cause document. The 56-year-old driver was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide "based on the admitted inattention to driving, while on Autopilot mode, and the distraction of the cell phone while moving forward, putting trust in the machine to drive for him," the affidavit said. The motorcyclist, Jeffrey Nissen, 28, of Stanwood, Washington, was under the car and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities reported. Nissen's death is at least the second in the US involving Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" system. In investigative documents, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said earlier it had found one fatality and 75 crashes while the system was being used. It wasn't clear whether the system was at fault in the fatality. Tesla has two partially automated driving systems, "Full Self-Driving," which can take on many driving tasks even on city streets, and Autopilot, which can keep a car in its lane and away from objects in front of it. Sometimes the names are confused by Tesla owners and the public. Tesla says at present neither system can drive itself and that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time. "Full Self-Driving" is being tested on public roads by selected Tesla owners. The company recently has been calling it FSD Supervised. Musk said last week that he did not think approval by government regulators would be a limiting factor in deploying robotaxis. "If you've got billions of miles that show that in the future, unsupervised FSD is safer than humans, what regulator could really stand in the way of that?" he asked. But Phil Koopman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who studies autonomous vehicle safety, said he doesn't see Tesla running robotaxis without human drivers on nearly all roads for another decade. The safety record Musk cites is based on having a human driver supervise the automated system, he said. "Unless you have data showing that the driver never has to supervise the automation, then there's no basis for claiming they're going to be acceptably safe," he said. Musk has said Tesla will unveil a dedicated robotaxi vehicle at an event on Oct. 10. The event was delayed from Aug. 8 to make changes in the vehicle that Musk wanted. Musk has been telling investors that Tesla is less of a car company and more of a robotics and artificial intelligence company. Many investors have put money into the company based on long-term prospects for robotics technology. Musk has been touting self-driving vehicles as a growth catalyst for Tesla since "Full Self Driving" hardware went on sale late in 2015.

Tesla that killed a motorcyclist near Seattle was operating on its 'Full Self Driving' system when it crashed

Investigators from the Washington State Patrol made the discovery after downloading information from the event-data recorder on the 2022 Tesla Model S, agency spokesman Capt. Deion Glover said Tuesday. "The investigation is still ongoing in this case," Glover said in an email to The Associated Press. The Snohomish County Prosecutor will determine if any charges are filed in the case, he said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that "Full Self Driving" should be able to run without human supervision by the end of this year. He has been promising a fleet of robotaxis for several years. During the company's earnings conference call, he acknowledged that his predictions on the issue "have been overly optimistic in the past." A message was left Tuesday seeking comment from Tesla. After the crash in a suburban area about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of Seattle, the driver told a trooper that he was using Tesla's Autopilot system and looked at his cellphone while the Tesla was moving. "The next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," the trooper wrote in a probable-cause document. The 56-year-old driver was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide "based on the admitted inattention to driving, while on Autopilot mode, and the distraction of the cell phone while moving forward, putting trust in the machine to drive for him," the affidavit said. The motorcyclist, Jeffrey Nissen, 28, of Stanwood, Washington, was under the car and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities reported. Nissen's death is at least the second in the U.S. involving Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" system. In investigative documents, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said earlier it had found one fatality and 75 crashes while the system was being used. It wasn't clear whether the system was at fault in the fatality. Tesla has two partially automated driving systems, "Full Self-Driving," which can take on many driving tasks even on city streets, and Autopilot, which can keep a car in its lane and away from objects in front of it. Sometimes the names are confused by Tesla owners and the public. Tesla says at present neither system can drive itself and that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time. "Full Self-Driving" is being tested on public roads by selected Tesla owners. The company recently has been calling it FSD Supervised. Musk said last week that he did not think approval by government regulators would be a limiting factor in deploying robotaxis. "If you've got billions of miles that show that in the future, unsupervised FSD is safer than humans, what regulator could really stand in the way of that?" he asked. But Phil Koopman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who studies autonomous vehicle safety, said he doesn't see Tesla running robotaxis without human drivers on nearly all roads for another decade. The safety record Musk cites is based on having a human driver supervise the automated system, he said. "Unless you have data showing that the driver never has to supervise the automation, then there's no basis for claiming they're going to be acceptably safe," he said. Musk has said Tesla will unveil a dedicated robotaxi vehicle at an event on Oct. 10. The event was delayed from Aug. 8 to make changes in the vehicle that Musk wanted. Musk has been telling investors that Tesla is less of a car company and more of a robotics and artificial intelligence company. Many investors have put money into the company based on long-term prospects for robotics technology. Musk has been touting self-driving vehicles as a growth catalyst for Tesla since "Full Self Driving" hardware went on sale late in 2015.

Tesla in Seattle-area crash that killed motorcyclist was using self-driving system, authorities say

DETROIT -- Authorities in Washington have determined that a Tesla that hit and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle in April was operating on the company's "Full Self Driving" system at the time of the crash. Investigators from the Washington State Patrol made the discovery after downloading information from the event-data recorder on the 2022 Tesla Model S, agency spokesman Capt, Deion Glover said Tuesday. "The investigation is still ongoing in this case," Glover said in an email to The Associated Press. No charges have been filed, he said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that "Full Self Driving" should be able to run without human supervision by the end of this year. He has been promising a fleet of robotaxis for several years. During the company's earnings conference call, he acknowledged that his predictions on the issue "have been overly optimistic in the past." After the crash in a suburban area about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of Seattle, the driver told a trooper that he was using Tesla's Autopilot system and looked at his cellphone while the Tesla was moving. "The next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," the trooper wrote in a probable-cause document. The 56-year-old driver was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide "based on the admitted inattention to driving, while on Autopilot mode, and the distraction of the cell phone while moving forward, putting trust in the machine to drive for him," the affidavit said. The motorcyclist, Jeffrey Nissen, 28, of Stanwood, Washington, was under the car and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities reported. Tesla has two partially automated driving systems, "Full Self-Driving," which can take on many driving tasks even on city streets, and Autopilot, which can keep a car in its lane and away from objects in front of it. Sometimes the names are confused by Tesla owners. Tesla says at present neither system can drive itself and that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time. "Full Self-Driving" is being tested on public roads by selected Tesla owners. The company recently has been calling it FSD Supervised. Musk has said the company will unveil a dedicated robotaxi vehicle that would use the system at an event on Oct. 10. The event was delayed from Aug. 8 to make changes in the vehicle that Musk wanted. Musk has been telling investors that Tesla is less of a car company and more of a robotics and artificial intelligence company. Many investors have put money into the company based on long term prospects for robotics technology.

Tesla in Seattle-Area Crash That Killed Motorcyclist Was Using Self-Driving System, Authorities Say

DETROIT (AP) -- Authorities in Washington have determined that a Tesla that hit and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle in April was operating on the company's "Full Self Driving" system at the time of the crash. Investigators from the Washington State Patrol made the discovery after downloading information from the event-data recorder on the 2022 Tesla Model S, agency spokesman Capt, Deion Glover said Tuesday. "The investigation is still ongoing in this case," Glover said in an email to The Associated Press. No charges have been filed, he said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that "Full Self Driving" should be able to run without human supervision by the end of this year. He has been promising a fleet of robotaxis for several years. During the company's earnings conference call, he acknowledged that his predictions on the issue "have been overly optimistic in the past." After the crash in a suburban area about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of Seattle, the driver told a trooper that he was using Tesla's Autopilot system and looked at his cellphone while the Tesla was moving. "The next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," the trooper wrote in a probable-cause document. The 56-year-old driver was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide "based on the admitted inattention to driving, while on Autopilot mode, and the distraction of the cell phone while moving forward, putting trust in the machine to drive for him," the affidavit said. The motorcyclist, Jeffrey Nissen, 28, of Stanwood, Washington, was under the car and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities reported. Tesla has two partially automated driving systems, "Full Self-Driving," which can take on many driving tasks even on city streets, and Autopilot, which can keep a car in its lane and away from objects in front of it. Sometimes the names are confused by Tesla owners. Tesla says at present neither system can drive itself and that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time. "Full Self-Driving" is being tested on public roads by selected Tesla owners. The company recently has been calling it FSD Supervised. Musk has said the company will unveil a dedicated robotaxi vehicle that would use the system at an event on Oct. 10. The event was delayed from Aug. 8 to make changes in the vehicle that Musk wanted. Musk has been telling investors that Tesla is less of a car company and more of a robotics and artificial intelligence company. Many investors have put money into the company based on long term prospects for robotics technology. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tesla in Seattle-area crash that killed motorcyclist was using self-driving system, authorities say

DETROIT -- Authorities in Washington have determined that a Tesla that hit and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle in April was operating on the company's "Full Self Driving" system at the time of the crash. Investigators from the Washington State Patrol made the discovery after downloading information from the event-data recorder on the 2022 Tesla Model S, agency spokesman Capt. Deion Glover said Tuesday. "The investigation is still ongoing in this case," Glover said in an email to The Associated Press. The Snohomish County Prosecutor will determine if any charges are filed in the case, he said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that "Full Self Driving" should be able to run without human supervision by the end of this year. He has been promising a fleet of robotaxis for several years. During the company's earnings conference call, he acknowledged that his predictions on the issue "have been overly optimistic in the past." A message was left Tuesday seeking comment from Tesla. After the crash in a suburban area about 15 miles northeast of Seattle, the driver told a trooper that he was using Tesla's Autopilot system and looked at his cellphone while the Tesla was moving. "The next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," the trooper wrote in a probable-cause document. The 56-year-old driver was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide "based on the admitted inattention to driving, while on Autopilot mode, and the distraction of the cell phone while moving forward, putting trust in the machine to drive for him," the affidavit said. The motorcyclist, Jeffrey Nissen, 28, of Stanwood, Washington, was under the car and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities reported. Nissen's death is at least the second in the U.S. involving Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" system. In investigative documents, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said earlier it had found one fatality and 75 crashes while the system was being used. It wasn't clear whether the system was at fault in the fatality. Tesla has two partially automated driving systems, "Full Self-Driving," which can take on many driving tasks even on city streets, and Autopilot, which can keep a car in its lane and away from objects in front of it. Sometimes the names are confused by Tesla owners and the public. Tesla says at present neither system can drive itself and that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time. "Full Self-Driving" is being tested on public roads by selected Tesla owners. The company recently has been calling it FSD Supervised. Musk said last week that he did not think approval by government regulators would be a limiting factor in deploying robotaxis. "If you've got billions of miles that show that in the future, unsupervised FSD is safer than humans, what regulator could really stand in the way of that?" he asked. But Phil Koopman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who studies autonomous vehicle safety, said he doesn't see Tesla running robotaxis without human drivers on nearly all roads for another decade. The safety record Musk cites is based on having a human driver supervise the automated system, he said. "Unless you have data showing that the driver never has to supervise the automation, then there's no basis for claiming they're going to be acceptably safe," he said. Musk has said Tesla will unveil a dedicated robotaxi vehicle at an event on Oct. 10. The event was delayed from Aug. 8 to make changes in the vehicle that Musk wanted. Musk has been telling investors that Tesla is less of a car company and more of a robotics and artificial intelligence company. Many investors have put money into the company based on long-term prospects for robotics technology. Musk has been touting self-driving vehicles as a growth catalyst for Tesla since "Full Self Driving" hardware went on sale late in 2015. ____ Associated Press writer Lisa Baumann contributed to this report from Bellingham, Washington.

Tesla in Seattle-area crash that killed motorcyclist was using self-driving system, authorities say

Investigators from the Washington State Patrol made the discovery after downloading information from the event-data recorder on the 2022 Tesla Model S, agency spokesman Capt, Deion Glover said Tuesday. "The investigation is still ongoing in this case," Glover said in an email to The Associated Press. The Prosecutor will determine if any charges are filed in the case, he said. CEO said last week that "Full Self Driving" should be able to run without human supervision by the end of this year. He has been promising a fleet of robotaxis for several years. During the company's earnings conference call, he acknowledged that his predictions on the issue "have been overly optimistic in the past." "The next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," the trooper wrote in a probable-cause document. The 56-year-old driver was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide "based on the admitted inattention to driving, while on Autopilot mode, and the distraction of the cell phone while moving forward, putting trust in the machine to drive for him," the affidavit said. The motorcyclist, , 28, of , was under the car and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities reported. Nissen's death is at least the second in the involving "Full Self-Driving" system. In investigative documents, the said earlier it had found one fatality and 75 crashes while the system was being used. It wasn't clear whether the system was at fault in the fatality. has two partially automated driving systems, "Full Self-Driving," which can take on many driving tasks even on city streets, and Autopilot, which can keep a car in its lane and away from objects in front of it. Sometimes the names are confused by owners and the public. says at present neither system can drive itself and that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time. "Full Self-Driving" is being tested on public roads by selected owners. The company recently has been calling it FSD Supervised. Musk said last week that he did not think approval by government regulators would be a limiting factor in deploying robotaxis. "If you've got billions of miles that show that in the future, unsupervised FSD is safer than humans, what regulator could really stand in the way of that?" he asked. But , a professor at who studies autonomous vehicle safety, said he doesn't see running robotaxis without human drivers on nearly all roads for another decade. The safety record Musk cites is based on having a human driver supervise the automated system, he said. "Unless you have data showing that the driver never has to supervise the automation, then there's no basis for claiming they're going to be acceptably safe," he said. Musk has said will unveil a dedicated robotaxi vehicle at an event on . The event was delayed from to make changes in the vehicle that Musk wanted. Musk has been telling investors that is less of a car company and more of a robotics and artificial intelligence company. Many investors have put money into the company based on long-term prospects for robotics technology. Musk has been touting self-driving vehicles as a growth catalyst for since "Full Self Driving" hardware went on sale late in 2015. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. , source

Tesla car that killed Seattle motorcyclist was in 'Full Self-Driving' mode, police say

Tesla says its "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" software requires active driver supervision and does not make vehicles autonomous. Previously, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said there was one fatal accident involving a Tesla vehicle using FSD software between August 2022 and August 2023. The NHTSA said that it "is aware of this crash and is gathering information from local law enforcement and Tesla." The police said the case remains under investigation, but experts say there are limitations to Tesla's technology dependent on cameras and artificial intelligence. Tesla's rivals such as Alphabet's Waymo also uses expensive sensors like lidars to detect the driving environment. "There are so many things that can go wrong" with Tesla's camera-only system, said Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid. For instance, he said it can inaccurately measure how far away an object is. "It is extremely challenging to collect and curate data from all sorts of real-world elements such as motorcycles and bicycles in the broad range of possible weather, lightning, road and traffic conditions," said Raj Rajkumar, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. This year, Musk shelved Tesla's all-new affordable cars and increased his bets on self-driving vehicles, saying he will be shocked if Tesla cannot achieve full self-driving capability next year. Speaking in an interview with the Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley club last weekend, he said a future vehicle will be like a "tiny mobile lounge" where drivers will be able to watch movies, play video games, work and even drink and sleep. Musk has been aiming to achieve self-driving capability for several years, with the technology under growing regulatory and legal scrutiny. The NHTSA began a probe of Autopilot in August 2021 after identifying more than a dozen crashes in which Tesla vehicles had hit stationary emergency vehicles, and reviewed hundreds of crashes involving Autopilot. In December 2023, Tesla was forced to recall nearly all its vehicles on U.S. roads to add safeguards to the software. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by David Gregorio and Stephen Coates)

Tesla car that killed Seattle motorcyclist was in 'Full Self-Driving' mode, police say | CNN Business

Reuters -- A Tesla Model S car was in "Full Self-Driving" mode when it hit and killed a 28-year-old motorcyclist in the Seattle area in April, police said, making it at least the second fatal accident involving the technology on which Tesla CEO Elon Musk is pinning his hopes. The 56-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide based on his admission that he was looking at his cell phone while using the driver assistant feature, police said in a statement. Tesla says its "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" software requires active driver supervision and does not make vehicles autonomous. Previously, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said there was one fatal accident involving a Tesla vehicle using FSD software between August 2022 and August 2023. The NHTSA said that it "is aware of this crash and is gathering information from local law enforcement and Tesla." The police said the case remains under investigation, but experts say there are limitations to Tesla's technology dependent on cameras and artificial intelligence. Tesla's rivals such as Alphabet's Waymo also uses expensive sensors like lidars to detect the driving environment. "There are so many things that can go wrong" with Tesla's camera-only system, said Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid. For instance, he said it can inaccurately measure how far away an object is. "It is extremely challenging to collect and curate data from all sorts of real-world elements such as motorcycles and bicycles in the broad range of possible weather, lightning, road and traffic conditions," said Raj Rajkumar, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. This year, Musk shelved Tesla's all-new affordable cars and increased his bets on self-driving vehicles, saying he will be shocked if Tesla cannot achieve full self-driving capability next year. Speaking in an interview with the Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley club last weekend, he said a future vehicle will be like a "tiny mobile lounge" where drivers will be able to watch movies, play video games, work and even drink and sleep. Musk has been aiming to achieve self-driving capability for several years, with the technology under growing regulatory and legal scrutiny. The NHTSA began a probe of Autopilot in August 2021 after identifying more than a dozen crashes in which Tesla vehicles had hit stationary emergency vehicles, and reviewed hundreds of crashes involving Autopilot. In December 2023, Tesla was forced to recall nearly all its vehicles on U.S. roads to add safeguards to the software.

Tesla that killed motorcyclist was in Full Self-Driving mode

28-year-old mowed down in US state where cars ordinarily aren't allowed to operate autonomously Washington State Patrol investigators have found that the Tesla involved in the death of a motorcyclist on Friday, April 19, 2024 was operating in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode. According to state patrol communications director Chris Loftis, the case is still being actively investigated. "But our criminal investigative division has confirmed that the Tesla was in Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) mode at the time of the collision," Loftis told The Register Wednesday. "Eventually, it will be up to the Snohomish County Prosecutor to determine if any charges are filed in the case." Jeff Nissen, 28, of Stanwood, Washington, was killed on April 19 when he was struck by a 2022 Tesla Model S. The crash occurred on eastbound State Route 522, east of Maltby. According to court documents cited in a Fox 13 Seattle report, the 56-year-old driver of the Tesla told first responders he was looking at his phone while the car was driving itself. The "vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," the court filings reportedly stated. Loftis said the driver was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide, based on his own admission that his attention was elsewhere and he was not in full control of his vehicle. The driver has posted bond and now awaits a charging decision. Washington State does not permit self-driving vehicles to operate, with the exception of companies that have entered into certified testing arrangements with the Department of Licensing. Currently, Loftis said, Nvidia, Waymo, and Zoox are certified to test self-driving cars in the US West Coast state. "Laws on the issue of autonomous vehicle capacity might vary by state to state or locale, but it is imperative that the traveling public remember the driver/operator is ALWAYS responsible for the safe and legal operation of their vehicle in any locale in the State of Washington," said Loftis. "A car may have the capacity to be driven autonomously but that does not give the driver the legal right to do so. " Tesla's Model S Owner's Manual states, "Like other Autopilot features, Full Self-Driving (Supervised) requires a fully attentive driver and will display a series of escalating warnings requiring driver response. You must keep your hands on the steering yoke (or steering wheel) while Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is engaged. In addition, the cabin camera monitors driver attentiveness (see Cabin Camera)." The manual further claims, "Use of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) will be suspended if improper usage is detected." Despite wishful-thinking terminology such as "Full Self-Driving" and "Autopilot," any such system presently active in commercially available vehicles on US roads is intended to assist a human driver rather act entirely or almost entirely on their behalf. "In reality, there are no self-driving vehicles on our roadways today available for consumer purchase," the US National Transportation Safety Board explains on its website. In September 2022, Tesla was sued [PDF] by customers who claimed the automaker misled them by using terms that suggested that its vehicles could operate autonomously or would soon be able to do so, when the technology just isn't there yet. That case remains ongoing following Tesla's failed attempt in May to have the claim dismissed. Tesla supremo Elon Musk has positioned the car marker as a robotics and AI company, perhaps to encourage investor enthusiasm about the supposed revenue potential of its delayed robotaxi and its planned line of Optimus humanoid robots. In the manufacturer's recent Q2 2024 earning call, Musk touted the self-driving capabilities of Tesla cars. "By far, the biggest differentiator for Tesla is autonomy," he claimed. "I still find that most people actually don't know how good the system is. And I would encourage anyone to understand the system better to simply try it out and let the car drive you around." But don't actually let the car drive you around. As Tesla states on its website, "Autopilot is a hands-on driver assistance system that is intended to be used only with a fully attentive driver. It does not turn a Tesla into a self-driving vehicle nor does it make a vehicle autonomous." ®

Tesla that hit and killed Seattle motorcyclist was in 'Full Self-Driving' mode, police say

Tesla says its "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" software requires active driver supervision and does not make vehicles autonomous. Previously, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said there was one fatal accident involving a Tesla vehicle using FSD software between August 2022 and August 2023. That case remains under investigation, but experts say there are limitations to Tesla's technology dependent on cameras and artificial intelligence. Tesla's rivals such as Alphabet's Waymo also uses expensive sensors like lidars to detect the driving environment. "There are so many things that can go wrong" with Tesla's camera-only system, said Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid. For instance, he said it can inaccurately measure how far away an object is. "It is extremely challenging to collect and curate data from all sorts of real-world elements such as motorcycles and bicycles in the bread range of possible weather, lightning, road and traffic conditions," said Raj Rajkumar, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. This year, Musk shelved Tesla's all-new affordable cars and increased his bets on self-driving vehicles, saying he will be shocked if Tesla cannot achieve full self-driving capability next year. Speaking in an interview with the Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley club last weekend, he said a future vehicle will be like a "tiny mobile lounge" where drivers will be able to watch movies, play video games, work and even drink and sleep. Musk has been aiming to achieve self-driving capability for several years, with the technology under growing regulatory and legal scrutiny. The regulator began a probe of Autopilot in August 2021 after identifying more than a dozen crashes in which Tesla vehicles had hit stationary emergency vehicles, and reviewed hundreds of crashes involving Autopilot. In December 2023, Tesla was forced to recall nearly all its vehicles on U.S. roads to add safeguards to the software. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Kevin Liffey and David Gregorio)

Tesla that killed motorcyclist was in Full-Self Driving mode

28-year-old mowed down in US state where cars ordinarily aren't allowed to operate autonomously Washington State Patrol investigators have found that the Tesla involved in the death of a motorcyclist on Friday, April 19, 2024 was operating in Full-Self Driving (FSD) mode. According to state patrol communications director Chris Loftis, the case is still being actively investigated. "But our criminal investigative division has confirmed that the Tesla was in Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) mode at the time of the collision," Loftis told The Register Wednesday. "Eventually, it will be up to the Snohomish County Prosecutor to determine if any charges are filed in the case." Jeff Nissen, 28, of Stanwood, Washington, was killed on April 19 when he was struck by a 2022 Tesla Model S. The crash occurred on eastbound State Route 522, east of Maltby. According to court documents cited in a Fox 13 Seattle report, the 56-year-old driver of the Tesla told first responders he was looking at his phone while the car was driving itself. The "vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," the court filings reportedly stated. Loftis said the driver was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide, based on his own admission that his attention was elsewhere and he was not in full control of his vehicle. The driver has posted bond and now awaits a charging decision. Washington State does not permit self-driving vehicles to operate, with the exception of companies that have entered into certified testing arrangements with the Department of Licensing. Currently, Loftis said, Nvidia, Waymo, and Zoox are certified to test self-driving cars in the US West Coast state. "Laws on the issue of autonomous vehicle capacity might vary by state to state or locale, but it is imperative that the traveling public remember the driver/operator is ALWAYS responsible for the safe and legal operation of their vehicle in any locale in the State of Washington," said Loftis. "A car may have the capacity to be driven autonomously but that does not give the driver the legal right to do so. " Tesla's Model S Owner's Manual states, "Like other Autopilot features, Full Self-Driving (Supervised) requires a fully attentive driver and will display a series of escalating warnings requiring driver response. You must keep your hands on the steering yoke (or steering wheel) while Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is engaged. In addition, the cabin camera monitors driver attentiveness (see Cabin Camera)." The manual further claims, "Use of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) will be suspended if improper usage is detected." Despite wishful-thinking terminology such as "Full-Self Driving" and "Autopilot," any such system presently active in commercially available vehicles on US roads is intended to assist a human driver rather act entirely or almost entirely on their behalf. "In reality, there are no self-driving vehicles on our roadways today available for consumer purchase," the US National Transportation Safety Board explains on its website. In September 2022, Tesla was sued [PDF] by customers who claimed the automaker misled them by using terms that suggested that its vehicles could operate autonomously or would soon be able to do so, when the technology just isn't there yet. That case remains ongoing following Tesla's failed attempt in May to have the claim dismissed. Tesla supremo Elon Musk has positioned the car marker as a robotics and AI company, perhaps to encourage investor enthusiasm about the supposed revenue potential of its delayed robotaxi and its planned line of Optimus humanoid robots. In the manufacturer's recent Q2 2024 earning call, Musk touted the self-driving capabilities of Tesla cars. "By far, the biggest differentiator for Tesla is autonomy," he claimed. "I still find that most people actually don't know how good the system is. And I would encourage anyone to understand the system better to simply try it out and let the car drive you around." But don't actually let the car drive you around. As Tesla states on its website, "Autopilot is a hands-on driver assistance system that is intended to be used only with a fully attentive driver. It does not turn a Tesla into a self-driving vehicle nor does it make a vehicle autonomous." ®

Tesla in fatal Monroe crash was using self-driving system, authorities say

Authorities have determined a Tesla that hit and killed a motorcyclist in Monroe in April was operating on the company's "Full Self-Driving" system at the time of the crash. Investigators from the Washington State Patrol made the discovery after downloading information from the event-data recorder on the 2022 Tesla Model S, agency spokesperson Capt. Deion Glover said Tuesday. "The investigation is still ongoing in this case," Glover said in an email to The Associated Press. No charges have been filed, he said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Full Self-Driving should be able to run without human supervision by the end of this year. He has been promising a fleet of robotaxis for years. During the company's earnings conference call, he acknowledged his predictions on the issue "have been overly optimistic in the past." After the crash, the driver told a trooper that he was using Tesla's Autopilot system and looked at his cellphone while the Tesla was moving. "The next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," the trooper wrote in a probable cause document. The 56-year-old driver was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide "based on the admitted inattention to driving, while on Autopilot mode, and the distraction of the cell phone while moving forward, putting trust in the machine to drive for him," the affidavit said. The motorcyclist, Jeffrey Nissen, 28, of Stanwood, was under the car and died at the scene, authorities reported. Tesla has two partially automated driving systems, Full Self-Driving, which can take on many driving tasks even on city streets, and Autopilot, which can keep a car in its lane and away from objects in front of it. Sometimes the names are confused by Tesla owners. Tesla says at present neither system can drive itself and that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time. "Full Self-Driving" is being tested on public roads by selected Tesla owners. The company recently has been calling it FSD Supervised. Musk has said the company will unveil a dedicated robotaxi vehicle that would use the system at an event on Oct. 10. The event was delayed from Aug. 8 to make changes in the vehicle that Musk wanted. Musk has been telling investors that Tesla is less of a car company and more of a robotics and artificial intelligence company. Many investors have put money into the company based on long term prospects for robotics technology.

US road safety agency will look into fatal crash near Seattle involving Tesla using automated system

DETROIT -- U.S. road safety investigators say they will look into an April crash near Seattle after authorities determined that a Tesla was operating on the company's "Full Self-Driving" system when it hit and killed a motorcyclist. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday that it is gathering information on the crash from law enforcement officers and Tesla. Investigators from the Washington State Patrol determined that the system was in use after downloading information from the event-data recorder on the 2022 Tesla Model S involved in the crash, agency spokesman Capt. Deion Glover said Tuesday. No charges have been filed against the driver but the investigation is still under way, Glover said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that "Full Self Driving" should be able to run without human supervision by the end of this year. He has been promising a fleet of robotaxis for several years. During the company's earnings conference call, he acknowledged that his predictions on the issue "have been overly optimistic in the past." Musk is staking much of Tesla's future on development of self-driving software and a humanoid robot. He has told investors that Tesla should be seen as a robotics and artificial intelligence company, and he has scheduled an event in October to reveal a new robotaxi. Tesla did not return messages seeking comment. Tesla has two partially automated driving systems, "Full Self-Driving," which can take on many driving tasks even on city streets, and Autopilot, which can keep a car in its lane and away from objects in front of it. Sometimes the names are confused by Tesla owners and the public. Tesla says at present neither system can drive itself and that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time. "Full Self-Driving" is being tested on public roads by selected Tesla owners. Twice NHTSA has made Tesla recall "Full Self-Driving" because it disobeyed traffic laws. It also forced a recall of Autopilot, alleging that Tesla's system for making sure drivers pay attention was inadequate. In April, the agency began investigating whether the Autopilot recall actually worked.

US Road Safety Agency Will Look Into Fatal Crash Near Seattle Involving Tesla Using Automated System

DETROIT (AP) -- U.S. road safety investigators say they will look into an April crash near Seattle after authorities determined that a Tesla was operating on the company's "Full Self-Driving" system when it hit and killed a motorcyclist. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday that it is gathering information on the crash from law enforcement officers and Tesla. Investigators from the Washington State Patrol determined that the system was in use after downloading information from the event-data recorder on the 2022 Tesla Model S involved in the crash, agency spokesman Capt. Deion Glover said Tuesday. No charges have been filed against the driver but the investigation is still under way, Glover said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that "Full Self Driving" should be able to run without human supervision by the end of this year. He has been promising a fleet of robotaxis for several years. During the company's earnings conference call, he acknowledged that his predictions on the issue "have been overly optimistic in the past." Musk is staking much of Tesla's future on development of self-driving software and a humanoid robot. He has told investors that Tesla should be seen as a robotics and artificial intelligence company, and he has scheduled an event in October to reveal a new robotaxi. Tesla did not return messages seeking comment. Tesla has two partially automated driving systems, "Full Self-Driving," which can take on many driving tasks even on city streets, and Autopilot, which can keep a car in its lane and away from objects in front of it. Sometimes the names are confused by Tesla owners and the public. Tesla says at present neither system can drive itself and that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time. "Full Self-Driving" is being tested on public roads by selected Tesla owners. Twice NHTSA has made Tesla recall "Full Self-Driving" because it disobeyed traffic laws. It also forced a recall of Autopilot, alleging that Tesla's system for making sure drivers pay attention was inadequate. In April, the agency began investigating whether the Autopilot recall actually worked. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

US road safety agency will look into fatal crash near Seattle involving Tesla using automated system

DETROIT (AP) -- U.S. road safety investigators say they will look into an April crash near Seattle after authorities determined that a Tesla was operating on the company's "Full Self-Driving" system when it hit and killed a motorcyclist. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday that it is gathering information on the crash from law enforcement officers and Tesla. Investigators from the Washington State Patrol determined that the system was in use after downloading information from the event-data recorder on the 2022 Tesla Model S involved in the crash, agency spokesman Capt. Deion Glover said Tuesday. No charges have been filed against the driver but the investigation is still under way, Glover said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that "Full Self Driving" should be able to run without human supervision by the end of this year. He has been promising a fleet of robotaxis for several years. During the company's earnings conference call, he acknowledged that his predictions on the issue "have been overly optimistic in the past." Musk is staking much of Tesla's future on development of self-driving software and a humanoid robot. He has told investors that Tesla should be seen as a robotics and artificial intelligence company, and he has scheduled an event in October to reveal a new robotaxi. Tesla did not return messages seeking comment. Tesla has two partially automated driving systems, "Full Self-Driving," which can take on many driving tasks even on city streets, and Autopilot, which can keep a car in its lane and away from objects in front of it. Sometimes the names are confused by Tesla owners and the public. Tesla says at present neither system can drive itself and that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time. "Full Self-Driving" is being tested on public roads by selected Tesla owners. Twice NHTSA has made Tesla recall "Full Self-Driving" because it disobeyed traffic laws. It also forced a recall of Autopilot, alleging that Tesla's system for making sure drivers pay attention was inadequate. In April, the agency began investigating whether the Autopilot recall actually worked.