Tesla to release FSD Beta 11.4.1 to employees today
Not a Tesla App
Elon Musk announced Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta 11.4.1 will be released to employees today. In a series of tweets, Musk lauded the update as a "major improvement" and suggested that it could have been labeled as version 12.0 due to its numerous enhancements.
Musk Praises 11.4.1 as a "Major Improvement"
As is typical with FSD Beta releases, Tesla plans to expand the update gradually, starting with its employees before moving on to the original testers and then further widening the user base as confidence in the system's safety and performance increases. The company extensively tests its updates through simulations and QA drivers, but Musk acknowledges the complexity of real-world driving conditions.
The release of FSD Beta 11.4.1 to Tesla employees follows recent positive reviews from Musk. Musk previously tweeted that the 11.4 update was "excellent" after driving to random pin drop locations in Austin, Texas, without any safety-critical interventions.
The Road to Full Self-Driving Technology
FSD Beta 11.4.1 brings several significant enhancements to Tesla's autonomous driving technology, including improved pedestrian recognition and response, better responsiveness to vulnerable road users, and weather-adaptive speed control. These advancements showcase Tesla's commitment to perfecting its Full Self-Driving technology through fleet learning, user feedback, and rigorous testing.
FSD Beta v12
Musk stated that version 12 is reserved for when FSD becomes an end-to-end artificial intelligence (AI) system, controlling everything from image input to steering, braking, and acceleration output. Tesla currently uses AI to detect things like cars, road edges and other objects, however, vehicle output like steering and acceleration is accomplished with a more traditional approach. However, the upcoming 11.4.1 beta update is already praised for its significant improvements.
As anticipation for the public release of FSD Beta 11.4.1 grows, Tesla owners and enthusiasts eagerly await the opportunity to experience the update's improved safety features and driving performance. In addition, Elon Musk's recent announcement and praise for the system heightened expectations and reinforced Tesla's commitment to developing and refining autonomous driving technology. With the release of FSD Beta 11.4.1 to employees and the promise of a gradual expansion, the future of Full Self-Driving technology becomes increasingly tangible and exciting.
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Every Tesla vehicle is filled to the brim with modern and advanced features - and there is a massively complex network of devices powering that - from the FSD and infotainment computers, to the various networked sensors throughout the vehicle.
That massive network of wiring is traditionally run on a system called CAN, or the Controller Area Network - which was developed by Bosch all the way back in the 1980s. Since then, it has been the industry standard for in-vehicle part-to-part communication for decades.
However, just like the horse and buggy, it may be time for CAN to be put out to pasture as it struggles in the data-driven modern environment. Massive amounts of sensor data, high-resolution infotainment screens, over-the-air (OTA) updates, and centralized Electronic Control Units (ECUs) mean that the old standard just can’t keep up anymore.
Tesla is now actively developing and deploying a next-generation vehicle network to replace CANBUS, and this new network will likely function in synergy with the move to the new 48-volt low-voltage architecture being pioneered by the Cybertruck.
CANBUS - The Old Workhorse
CANBUS was originally developed in 1983, released in 1986, and then standardized by the International Standards Organization (ISO) as ISO 11898 in 1993.
It’s a venerable standard that was revolutionary at the time, as it drastically reduced wiring complexity compared to the point-to-point methods being used in the late 80s and early 90s, and saw immediate mass adoption across the entire industry.
CAN is a message-based protocol, where nodes broadcast data with identifiers. The priority of packets determines their movement and access. However, CAN 2.0 and CAN FD are both extremely limited - CAN 2.0 is limited to a glacial 1Mbps, and ~8Mbps for the more “modern” CAN FD.
CAN FD barely makes the mark for 1080p video streaming at 60fps - if it is pre-encoded. Unencoded raw video surpasses what CAN FD is capable of, and greatly limits its capabilities and usages in a modern data-first vehicle like a Tesla.
CAN is also complex - it is simpler than a point-to-point wiring system, but the multiple CAN buses and gateways result in a complex, heavy, and costly wiring harness that can be next to impossible to diagnose, repair, or replace.
Tesla’s Next-Gen Networking
Tesla’s next-gen networking is all about timing - and unlike CAN, where two messages coming in at the same time can collide (resulting in neither reaching the node), Tesla’s TDMA, or Time Division Multiple Access, assigns specific time slots. This means that access to each node or data point is guaranteed and avoids interference.
You can think of CAN being like everyone yelling in the same room - but TDMA being a tightly scheduled series of one-on-one meetings.
However, TDMA isn’t just a simple sorting system. According to Tesla's patent application, the network operates in repeating cycles. At the start of each cycle, a Network Allocation Map (MAP) is transmitted. Think of this MAP as the dynamic schedule for that cycle – it tells every node exactly which time slots are reserved for which communications. Each reservation specifies the transmitting node, the receiving node, the duration of the slot, and, crucially, the type of traffic it is for.
This allows for sophisticated Quality of Service (QoS) management, separating data into different categories. The patent specifically calls out two main types:
Low Latency (LL) Traffic: These are for critical, time-sensitive signals (think sensor readings for FSD, airbag triggers, control commands). They get assigned short time slots that repeat very frequently within the TDMA cycle (potentially every 500 microseconds, according to one example in the patent) to guarantee delivery within a strict maximum delay. The data packets themselves are kept small, maybe only tens of bytes, to fit these quick slots.
Bulk Traffic: This is for data where total volume is more important than millisecond-level delay (think infotainment data, camera video feeds, maybe larger data logs). These get assigned longer time slots, allowing for larger data packets (over 100 bytes in one example), ensuring high overall throughput even if they don't repeat as often as the LL slots.
This whole system relies on precise synchronization across all nodes. The patent mentions synchronization signals within the TDMA cycle and specialized modem hardware to keep everything perfectly timed.
The network can also be structured into logical domains (like front-left, cabin-right, etc.), each managed by a Domain Master node that handles the MAP and communication within that zone. So, TDMA isn’t just a sorting system; it's a highly managed network implementing traffic prioritization (LL vs. Bulk), dynamic slot allocation via the MAP, and potentially managed by centralized Domain Masters, all designed for efficiency and reliability.
48-Volt and LVCS
Many of these networking concepts appear designed to work hand-in-hand with Tesla’s recently-released LVCS - or Low Voltage Connector Standard. LVCS simplifies vehicle wiring networks by drastically reducing the number of connector types needed from over 200 down to just six. While the patent focuses on the data protocol, LVCS simplifies the physical layer, and the 48V architecture it's built on also enables using the vehicle's DC power lines as a potential network medium (PLC), helping to reduce complexity.
Tesla has been utilizing these new approaches in the Cybertruck, as evident in their new and unique interactive wiring diagram, which helps technicians debug wiring issues. We can expect even more features to take advantage of the new capabilities in the future.
48V also means thinner wires, which reduces costs, and LVCS simplifies the connectors on both the harness and nodes - which means less part complexity, further simplifying the manufacturing and supply chain, while also ensuring vehicles are more repairable.
Wrapping Up
This is another innovation that Tesla is introducing to its fleet - and while we initially looked at it and thought, “Wires? How boring,” we soon realized that it is, in fact, the skeleton that Tesla will use to build its future systems.
That means smoother, faster, and more robust FSD data transfer within the vehicle, resulting in snappier and more effective decision-making. A quicker and more functional infotainment system and better support for deep-reaching OTA updates due to the reduced internal complexity and lack of reliance on internal CAN buses, which couldn’t be updated.
This is a massive technological leap over the decades-old CAN bus system, and while it may be invisible to the average user, it is an excellent example of all the engineering that goes on in under the hood of every Tesla vehicle.
Tesla’s ambitious 4680 cell program has been pivotal for its vehicle roadmap - and in particular, for the Cybertruck. Bonnue Eggleston, Tesla’s Senior Director for the 4680 cell project at Tesla, recently sat down with Sandy Munro on Munro Live, offering valuable insights into cell development, manufacturing hurdles, and Tesla’s future trajectory. You can watch the video in its entirely below.
The 4680 cell, like many batteries, is characterized by its dimensions: 46mm in diameter and 80mm long. Tesla is currently producing the 2nd generation of the 4680 - internally known as the Cybercell - which is shipped with every variant of the Cybertruck. This Gen 2 variant is a considerable step up from Gen 1 - whose limited production was cancelled following the slow charging issues with the 4680 Model Y.
Prototypes are Easy; Production is Hard
Bringing the 4680 from a concept cell to mass production hasn’t been easy, but according to Tesla, it has now become Tesla’s cheapest cell per kWh. Eggleston emphasized in the video that scaling up was an immense challenge - and required an extreme attention to detail.
With a team possessing a broad skill set, it took considerable effort to bring the 4680 to life, starting from the raw electrode material and progressing through the crucial formation process.
Breaking Barriers
To overcome these hurdles, Eggleston’s team leaned into innovation and focused on new processes that had not been utilized in the battery world yet. The groundbreaking new dry electrode process is the key here, which eliminates the use of toxic solvents and large ovens required in traditional production methods. This reduces internal factory footprint, while also being cleaner and safer, building a better cell from the ground up.
Complementing this, Tesla has also been developing a custom electrolyte formulation in-house, tailored specifically for their anode, cathode, and separator materials, all aimed at expanding their deep vertical integration.
This vertical integration has been key to the 4680 program, and Tesla has further extended it, with in-house production of components like cell cans serving to optimize the process and reduce waste. Eggleston also pointed out the unique terminal design on the 4680, which allows for easier and more reliable welding, contributing to the high production output that Tesla is aiming for.
Sustainability
On the sustainability front, Tesla has been hard at work recovering and recycling materials right from the manufacturing line to minimize waste. Eggleston highlighted this as part of Tesla's effort to promote sustainability, which ties in with the environmental benefits gained from avoiding solvents in the dry electrode process.
Structural Battery Packs
While the 4680 is intrinsically linked to the Cybertruck, we expect Tesla to expand this to its future vehicles eventually - whether through use of the specific cell format, or the technologies learned through its development. Eggleston noted that the efficiency of the Cybertruck is partly due to his team’s cooperation and work with the vehicle team. The structural battery pack minimizes weight and provides additional support and protection to the cabin and occupants.
4680 in the Future
Eggleston expressed a considerable amount of confidence in Tesla’s 4680 program and the progress - citing significant improvements in throughput, yields, and product quality since he took leadership.
He acknowledged the ambitious targets that Tesla and Elon have set - and mentioned that the use of metrics like headcount per gigawatt helps drive production efficiently. This metric essentially measures labor efficiency – producing more battery capacity (gigawatt-hours) with fewer people indicates a more streamlined and cost-effective manufacturing process.
While Eggleston hinted at future developments, and we have previously heard of Tesla working on even more cells for the future, the battery technology race has been progressing rapidly around the world. While Tesla has been pushing 4680 production and deploying 325kW-capable Superchargers (and soon 500kW), they continue to face challenges from the competition.
Brands like China’s Zeekr are demonstrating new LFP batteries capable of charging from 10-80% in under 10 minutes, while achieving sustained speeds of 400kW+. Currently, the Cybertruck can only sustain the 325kW cap speed for a few minutes at best, resulting in a sub-par charging curve compared to upcoming competitors.
Tesla will have to focus on developing and producing new cells that maintain that cost-competitive advantage the 4680 has built, while also achieving faster charging speeds across its entire lineup. For now, these new faster charging speeds are restricted to the Cybertruck, but with refreshes for the Model S and Model X on the horizon, we expect that Tesla’s updated flagship vehicles will make the best use of this tech until it is ready for the rest of the lineup.
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