Tesla Adds Bioweapon Defense Mode as Retrofit Option for Model Y

November 22, 2023

By Kevin Armstrong

Tesla is offering a HEPA filter retrofit option for the Model Y

michaeltfang / Not a Tesla App

Tesla has launched a retrofit service for its 2020 and 2021 Model Y vehicles in the United States and Canada, offering an upgrade to include HEPA filters and enable Bioweapon Defense Mode. This retrofit becomes available two years after the Fremont factory started manufacturing the electric SUV.

Introduction to HEPA Filters in Tesla Model Y

Initially, the Model Y, released in early 2020, did not feature HEPA filters, well-known for capturing and filtering out 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 micrometers. Initially, only the Model S and Model X were equipped with these filters.

Despite the initial absence of HEPA filters in the Model Y, the design allowed enough space for their future inclusion. In June 2021, Tesla began incorporating these filters in the Model Y production line. The new retrofit service, now available through the service section of the Tesla app, addresses the demands of existing owners seeking to upgrade their vehicles.

The retrofit service is priced at $330 USD. Owners can schedule the service via the Tesla mobile app.

Will the Model 3 be Next?

Elon Musk mentioned the impracticality of fitting these "giant" filters in the Model 3. In 2018, he posted:

Model S & X also have an acid gas filter, an alkaline gas filter & a carbon monoxide detector that autoswitches car to recirc mode. We should prob tell people about this more. Filters are giant, so too big to fit in Model 3.

Tesla's new Model 3 was speculated to have a HEPA filter, however it appears it'll continue to be the only Tesla without Bioweapon Defense Mode.

Bioweapon Defense Mode: A Leap in Air Filtration Technology

Utilizing the HEPA filter, Tesla's Bioweapon Defense Mode is inspired by hospital-grade air filtration systems and offers a strong defense against various air pollutants, including pathogens and allergens. This mode operates by pulling external air through the HEPA filter and an additional activated carbon filter, ensuring the removal of harmful particles and contaminants. Furthermore, it creates a positive pressure environment in the cabin, akin to those in medical settings, preventing external air infiltration.

Tesla has showcased the effectiveness of its Bioweapon Defense Mode through various tests and experiments. In one demonstration, a Model Y equipped with this mode was compared to a BMW X3 in a controlled environment filled with smoke, highlighting Tesla's system's superior air filtration capability.

The company is recognized as producing the safest cars on the planet, but that safety goes further than airbags and rollover protection. The importance of air quality in vehicles is increasingly recognized, especially considering the health impacts of prolonged exposure to air pollutants. Tesla's advanced air filtration system enhances passenger well-being and differentiates it from other automakers. While many vehicles have air filtration systems, few rival the comprehensive protection offered by Tesla's Bioweapon Defense Mode.

Tesla’s Giga Berlin Artwork: Where Creativity Meets Autonomy [VIDEO]

February 5, 2025

By Karan Singh

@tobilindh on X

Back in 2021, while Giga Berlin was still undergoing construction, Elon Musk said that he wanted to fill the factory with graffiti artwork. Just months later, Tesla posted a submission link to find local artists for the project.

It remained relatively quiet for about two years until Musk resurfaced with a post congratulating the team on their progress—and revealing that the factory’s concrete would be entirely covered in art. By 2023, that vision was already taking shape. Tesla began by collaborating with local artists, who created much of the artwork seen in the 2023 image above.

The Giga Berlin West Side in 2023

Not a Tesla App

Graffiti at Scale

More of the awesome digital artwork

@tobilindh on X

As expected from Tesla, they didn’t just hire a group of artists to paint and scale the walls. True to their ethos of autonomy, robotics, and innovation, they sought a more futuristic approach. The local crews couldn’t work fast enough or cover enough ground, so Tesla did what it does best—push the boundaries of technology.

Covering an entire factory in art is a massive undertaking, especially when that factory spans 740 acres (1.2 sq mi / 3 km²). With such an immense canvas, Tesla needed a high-tech solution.

Enter a graffiti start-up that had developed a robotic muralist. Tesla partnered with the company, sourcing digital artwork from independent artists while also commissioning pieces from its in-house creative team. Armed with this collection, the robot meticulously printed the artwork directly onto the factory’s concrete, turning Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg into a futuristic masterpiece.

The Robot

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This ingenious little robot is equipped with a precision printhead and a sophisticated lifting mechanism. It moves using two kevlar cables that allow it to glide up, down, left, and right while a pair of propellers generates downforce to keep it steady against the wall.

The printhead itself is capable of painting approximately 10 million tiny dots per wall, adding up to a staggering 300 million dots just for the west-facing side of Giga Berlin. Each mural features five distinct colors, and the robot carries 12 cans of paint, ensuring it can keep working for extended periods without interruption.

Check out the video below to see the robot action, along with mesmerizing time-lapse footage of the printing process. It’s an exciting glimpse into how Tesla is blending technology and creativity at Giga Berlin—and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

From concrete to art at Giga Berlin pic.twitter.com/Uqv3ZKhU40
— Tesla Manufacturing (@gigafactories) January 8, 2025

What’s Coming Next in Tesla FSD V14

February 5, 2025

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

With FSD V13.2.6 continuing to make its way to AI4 vehicles, Tesla has been on a streak with minor FSD improvements since the launch of FSD V13 just a little over two months ago.

FSD V13 brought a new slate of features, including Start FSD from Park, Reverse, and Park at Destination. It also introduced full-resolution video input using the AI4 cameras at 36hz and made use of the new Cortex supercomputer to get faster and more accurate decision-making.

So, what’s next with FSD V14? Tesla gave us a sneak peek at what’s next for FSD.

FSD V14

The standout feature of FSD V14 will be auto-regressive transformers. While that’s a complex term for those unfamiliar with AI or machine learning, we’ll break it down.

Auto-Regressive

An auto-regressive transformer processes sequential data in time, using that information to predict future elements based on previous ones. Imagine completing a sentence: You use the words already written to guess what comes next. This process isn't just about filling in the blank; it's about understanding the flow of the sentence and anticipating the speaker's intent.

FSD could analyze a sequence of camera images to identify pedestrians and predict their likely path based on their current movement and surrounding context. The system's auto-regressive nature allows it to learn from past sequences and improve its predictions over time, adapting to different driving scenarios.

Today, FSD reacts to what it sees, but soon it’ll be able to anticipate what will help, much like humans.

Transformers

The second part of that term is transformer, which is a component used to understand the relationships of elements inside a time sequence. It identifies which parts of the input are most crucial for making accurate predictions, allowing the system to prioritize information much like a human would. Think of it as weighing different pieces of evidence to arrive at a conclusion. For example, a transformer might recognize that a blinking turn signal is more important than the color of the car when predicting a lane change.

Putting It Together

Putting all that together, Tesla’s use of auto-regressive transformers means they’ll be working on how FSD can predict the plans and paths of the world around it. This will improve FSD’s already powerful perception and allow it to predict how other vehicles and vulnerable road users (VRUs) will behave.

What it all comes down to is that FSD will be able to make better decisions and plan its paths by making more informed, human-like decisions. That will be a big step towards improving V13 - which already has some very effective decision-making.

Larger Model and Context Size

Ashok Elluswamy (Tesla’s VP of AI) stated that FSD V14 will see larger model and context sizes in FSD V14, which coincidentally are listed in the upcoming improvements section of FSD V13.2.6. If we compare what Ashok said to what’s listed in the upcoming features section, the model and context sizes should grow by 3x.

Interestingly, Ashok says that AI4’s memory limits context size. Context is essentially the history of what the vehicle remembers, which is used for future decisions. Since this information is stored in memory, it’ll always be limited by memory, but it’s worth noting that Ashok mentioned that Tesla is restricted by the memory in the AI4 computer.

Leverage Audio Input

Tesla is already gathering audio data in existing FSD versions so that it can start training models with audio as well, truly making FSD more human-like. According to Ashok, FSD V14 will be the first version to take advantage of audio input for FSD driving. This will primarily be used for detecting emergency vehicles, but we can see this expanding to other sounds that help humans adjust their driving, such as car crashes, loud noises, honking, etc. At the very least, FSD could be more cautious when hearing a noise that matches an accident or vehicle honking.

FSD V14 Release Date

We haven’t heard from Elon Musk or Ashok Elluswamy about when FSD V14 will arrive. Ashok previously stated that FSD V13.4 would see audio inputs being used, but at Tesla’s earnings call, Tesla said that audio input would become relevant in V14, making it seem like Tesla may scrap V13.4 for V14.

Since Tesla is planning to launch their Robotaxi network in Texas this June, which is just four months away, FSD V14 may be the version used for its autonomous taxi fleet.