Tesla has taken another step into the future with its latest patent filing for a steer-by-wire system. Late last year, speculation was that this system might be coming in 2023. The system, poised to replace traditional steering mechanisms, brings promising advantages: increased efficiency, advanced steering configurations, and the opportunity for groundbreaking vehicle cockpit designs.
The Steer-by-Wire System
At this point, you may wonder: What is a steer-by-wire system, and how does it change the game?
Steer-by-wire technology eliminates the mechanical linkage between the steering and the vehicle's wheels. Instead, steering inputs from the driver are converted into electronic signals, which are then processed by the vehicle's computer system to control the wheels' direction. This transformation promises an ultra-responsive, smoother, and more efficient steering experience, a development bound to change how we drive.
Setting Stage for a Shift with the Steer-by-Wire System
Tesla's steer-by-wire system, as detailed in the patent, is designed with a remarkable feature: redundancy. The system does away with the need for a backup mechanical steering system, relying instead on zonally isolated redundant components. This ensures that even in the event of a component failure, the overall system's performance remains uncompromised.
But how does this fit with Tesla's current design? The company's novel yoke steering wheel, which made waves in 2021, seems the perfect candidate for a steer-by-wire system. This bold design has met with mixed reviews, primarily due to its deviation from traditional hand-over-hand steering. Yet, with a steer-by-wire system, such a design could come into its own, by offering different steering ratios at various speeds, essentially eliminating hand-over-hand actions.
How Steer-by-Wire System Edges Out Traditional Mechanisms
The steer-by-wire system isn't just about changing the status quo; it's about enhancing it. One key benefit is the potential to speed up production by reducing the number of parts needed for the steering mechanism. Additionally, the drive-by-wire technology promises a smoother ride, as the steering wheel is no longer directly connected to the road, minimizing vibration and pull on uneven surfaces.
Moreover, the advanced system responds to multiple variables to create a precise steering ratio, providing a more effortless and intuitive driving experience. This could be particularly beneficial for those who might find traditional steering challenging, such as seniors or individuals with disabilities.
With competition heating up in the EV market, Tesla's steer-by-wire patent signals its continued commitment to pushing boundaries and shaping the future of electric vehicles. Time will tell how this technology transforms our driving experience.
Tesla Investor Relations has officially confirmed that they will conduct the Robotaxi unveiling event on October 10th in Los Angeles. Event sign-up will be done using a random drawing for Tesla shareholders. The final date for entries is a week from today, on September 17th at midnight, and the selected shareholders will be announced the week of September 23rd.
Sign Up
You’ll need to own Tesla stock ($TSLA) to participate and will be required to verify your shareholder status on the Investor Relations site. The random drawing provides a better opportunity for those who hold lots of Tesla shares, as they’ll have a higher number of entries. You get one entry per confirmed share held.
At the moment, there are no details on the timing of the event, nor anything about +1 attendees. However, one item of note is that event draw winners cannot transfer their tickets to another party – which means if you get a ticket, it's for you and nobody else.
If you’re located in the United States, you can use ‘Say’ – Tesla’s Investor Relations partner – to automatically verify your shareholder status. For those outside of the United States, unless you’re trading with an American bank, you will need to provide an updated statement showing shareholder status for September 2024. Say takes about 3-5 business days to verify statements, so be sure to sign up early.
Robotaxi Event
The Robotaxi event will take place at the Warner Bros. Discovery Studios in LA, and Tesla has been pre-emptively gathering FSD data around the neighborhood. This likely means that the event will include a demonstration of Robotaxi’s capabilities and a reveal of the Robotaxi itself. We’re hoping that attendees will have the opportunity to sit in and experience Robotaxi delivering them from Point A to Point B inside of the Discovery Studios set pieces.
It’s expected to be one of Tesla’s most interesting and notable events, as this is the first reveal of the much-talked-about Robotaxi, which has been Tesla’s goal for its Full Self-Driving software since Elon Musk’s Masterplan I.
Tesla’s latest FSD update, version 2024.27.5 brings some improvements when parking your vehicle. This is another undocumented, but one we’re happy to see.
Most recently, the Cybertruck received the undocumented change for the Hands-Free Frunk opening (video below). The Cybertruck also recently received Vision Park Assist, which included steering wheel guides in the visualization showing the direction the front and rear wheels were turned. However, it turns out this isn’t just for the Cybertruck.
Update: We’ve updated this article to mention that this feature isn’t included in update 2024.32 yet.
Quick video on the auto frunk. It's literally 🧍♂️📐
Due to the Cybertruck’s unique rear-wheel steering and steer-by-wire design, Park Assist in the Cybertruck displayed the path of the front wheels, and how they would swing while reversing.
This enhancement is also coming to every Tesla vehicle in FSD 12.5.2 and later. It’s also expected to be available in a future update for non-FSD vehicles. However, it’s unclear whether it will be a later revision of update 2024.32 or the next major Tesla update. This is a neat little update, as it helps drivers better understand and predict the path their vehicle will take during a turn.
Brandon, going by @teslaflexx on X, originally spotted the new visuals recently on an AMD-based Model Y running 2024.27.5 and FSD V12.5.2.
Any vehicles who are on update 2024.27.5 or 2024.27.20 should have access to this new feature.
Looks like Cybertruck wasn’t the only vehicle to get the new guide visuals with park assist. Much better than the lines! pic.twitter.com/tF9ZsWCcWy
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