Tesla has re-released FSD Beta 11.3.6 on a newer branch
Not a Tesla App
Social media lit up early this morning as a new cohort of FSD Beta testers shared their excitement. For the first time, Tesla has re-released an existing FSD Beta version but based it on a newer branch. This makes this latest FSD Beta release available to all existing Tesla owners who subscribe to FSD or have purchased the FSD package.
Earlier this year, Tesla was compelled to issue an over-the-air (OTA) recall for more than 362,000 vehicles with FSD Beta installed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had raised concerns that under specific circumstances, the software might contravene local traffic regulations, potentially increasing collision risk if drivers failed to intervene.
Following the recall, Tesla halted the deployment of the software to new testers, putting a momentary brake on their FSD Capability option purchase or subscription. In March, Tesla resolved these issues with the release of FSD Beta 11.3.2, but new testers were still excluded from the rollout.
Tesla's FSD Beta is Back on Track
Late last night Tesla broke the ice by introducing the 2023.12.10 release, which includes FSD Beta 11.3.6. Notably, this release brings FSD Beta in line with the latest non-beta branch, a significant step forward in ensuring the continuous development of this innovative technology.
According to the release notes, this new beta update aligns with the existing 11.3.6 software version already in tester vehicles, which was version 2022.45.15. While this is excellent news for Tesla and its new testers, many were expecting to see beta 11.4.2, based on a recent tweet from CEO Elon Musk. Musk hinted that the 11.4.2 update would address "some easy-to-fix bugs" related to narrow roads and lane changes in heavy traffic.
With 11.3.6 being rolled out to new testers, it's hopeful that 11.4.2 will soon follow suit, bringing further enhancements to the FSD Beta software.
What Triggered the NHTSA Recall
Reflecting on the recall that led to the temporary rollout freeze, the NHTSA had identified several operational characteristics of the FSD Beta that could potentially infringe on local traffic laws. Issues raised included crossing intersections during a stale yellow traffic light, staying static at clear intersections for a prolonged period, adjusting vehicle speed in variable speed zones based on detected speed limit signs, and negotiating lane changes from certain turn-only lanes.
In the weeks following the recall, Tesla met with NHTSA representatives to discuss solutions. Despite initially disagreeing with the NHTSA’s analysis, Tesla has since issued a voluntary recall and promised a software update to remedy the issues.
The NHTSA's ongoing scrutiny of Tesla's Autopilot and FSD Beta software indicates the rigorous standards required for autonomous driving technologies. As Tesla rolls out its updated FSD Beta to new testers, it's clear that the company is committed to ensuring its technology's safety and continuous improvement.
Moving forward, all eyes will be on the imminent arrival of FSD Beta 11.4.2 and further developments in Tesla's pursuit of autonomous driving.
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Tesla’s been on a roll with Supercharger improvements lately, from the 325kW charging update for the Cybertruck, to 500kW with V4 Superchargers coming next year. While those improvements have been limited to the Cybertruck, Tesla didn’t put all their focus on their new flagship vehicle, but looked at their more affordable vehicles as well.
LFP Battery Heating
Tesla’s Superchargers can now heat LFP Batteries - those that are in the Model 3 and Model Y Rear Wheel Drive variants. This applies to Long Range and Standard Range models, which saw a limited run. This is another update included as part of the 2024 Tesla Holiday Update - which really arrived with a lot of unannounced new features and capabilities.
The change is pretty interesting - Superchargers of the V3 and V4 variety can now pre-heat batteries for Model 3 and Model Y vehicles equipped with LFP battery packs. That means those vehicles are able to get back on the road faster when it's extremely cold. Of course, Tesla still advises you to precondition before you arrive, saving drivers time and money.
Max de Zegher, Tesla’s Director of Charging, also commented on the new feature. Essentially, Tesla is inducing an AC (alternating) ripple current through the battery to warm it up. Keep in mind that Superchargers are DC charging. That means it is possible to get a cold-soaked LFP vehicle on the road 4x faster than before, assuming that it didn’t precondition at all and that it is in the worst-case scenario (below 0ºF).
In essence, Tesla is using some engineering magic to turn the circuits inside the LFP battery into an electric heater - and powering that heater through the Supercharger. An AC ripple current is a small oscillation in the DC charging current that generates heat through electrical resistance, warming up the battery. Those ripples are a byproduct of converting AC to DC and back - so Tesla is using the onboard charger to induce those ripples to warm up the battery. Definitely an innovative technique that’s really only possible with the versatility of the NACS connector.
We’re hoping Tesla can implement this across their full lineup of vehicles, but we’ll have to wait and see how it is trialed across LFP vehicles first and if it is even possible on vehicles with 2170 or 4680 battery packs.
Tesla launched two FSD updates simultaneously on Saturday night, and what’s most interesting is that they arrived on the same software version. We’ll dig into that a little later, but for now, there’s good news for everyone. For Hardware 3 owners, FSD V12.6.1 is launching to all vehicles, including the Model 3 and Model Y. For AI4 owners, FSD V13.2.4 is launching, starting with the Cybertruck.
FSD V13.2.4
A new V13 build is now rolling out to the Cybertruck and is expected to arrive for the rest of the AI4 fleet soon. However, this build seems to be focused on bug fixes. There are no changes to the release notes for the Cybertruck with this release, and it’s unlikely to feature any changes when it arrives on other vehicles.
FSD V12.6.1 builds upon V12.6, which is the latest FSD version for HW3 vehicles. While FSD V12.6 was only released for the redesigned Model S and Model X with HW3, FSD V12.6.1 is adding support for the Model 3 and Model Y.
While this is only a bug-fix release for users coming from FSD V12.6, it includes massive improvements for anyone coming from an older FSD version. Two of the biggest changes are the new end-to-end highway stack that now utilizes FSD V12 for highway driving and a redesigned controller that allows FSD to drive “V13” smooth.
It also adds speed profiles, earlier lane changes, and more. You can read our in-depth look at all the changes in FSD V12.6.
Same Update, Multiple FSD Builds
What’s interesting about this software version is that it “includes" two FSD updates, V12.6.1 for HW3 and V13.2.4 for HW4 vehicles. While this is interesting, it’s less special when you understand what’s happening under the hood.
The vehicle’s firmware and Autopilot firmware are actually completely separate. While a vehicle downloading a firmware update may look like a singular process, it’s actually performing several functions during this period. First, it downloads the vehicle’s firmware. Upon unpacking the update, it’s instructed which Autopilot/FSD firmware should be downloaded.
While the FSD firmware is separate, the vehicle can’t download any FSD update. The FSD version is hard-coded in the vehicle’s firmware that was just downloaded. This helps Tesla keep the infotainment and Autopilot firmware tightly coupled, leading to fewer issues.
What we’re seeing here is that HW3 vehicles are being told to download one FSD version, while HW4 vehicles are being told to download a different version.
While this is the first time Tesla has had two FSD versions tied to the same vehicle software version, the process hasn’t actually changed, and what we’re seeing won’t lead to faster FSD updates or the ability to download FSD separately. What we’re seeing is the direct result of the divergence of HW3 and HW4.
While HW3/4 remained basically on the same FSD version until recently, it is now necessary to deploy different versions for the two platforms. We expect this to be the norm going forward, where HW3 will be on a much different version of FSD than HW4. While each update may not include two different FSD versions going forward, we may see it occasionally, depending on which features Autopilot is dependent on.
Thanks to Greentheonly for helping us understand what happened with this release and for the insight into Tesla’s processes.
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