Tesla will now alert you when vision-monitoring isn't being used
@WifeDirtyTesla
With FSD V12.4.1 finally beginning its rollout to select customers as of last night. You’re probably wondering exactly how nags will – or won’t – work for the updated and much-hyped update.
No Steering Wheel Nags
Tesla’s current implementation of no steering wheel nags on V12.4.1 is pretty simple and straightforward. As long as you’re paying attention and looking at the road, you won’t be required to touch the steering wheel. You’ll see a green dot on the screen, letting you know that the enhanced driver monitoring system (DMS) and Vision-Based Attention Monitoring (VBAM) are active.
On the Model S and X, the green dot is on the instrument cluster screen, immediately next to the blue FSD/AP wheel icon. On the Model 3 and Model Y (and Cybertruck, in the future), the green dot indicator is on the top left of the screen, in between the battery indicator and the blue FSD/AP wheel.
However, there are some restrictions baked into this initial implementation. Your eyes cannot be obscured or occluded from the cabin camera. This means that legacy vehicles are ineligible for the new VBAM, along with anyone who installs a physical camera cover for privacy or other reasons.
For the privacy-conscious folks, Tesla has mentioned that cabin camera imagery will not leave the vehicle itself unless you enable data sharing, which is optional. Cabin camera imagery is also not available to view via the API, so third-party integrations cannot view your cabin camera either.
The green dot on the center display
Whole Mars Catalog
Restrictions
There are some other catches too. The cabin camera is currently unable to see through sunglasses due to the polarization. The car will display “Attention monitoring unavailable, sunglasses use detected” on the screen. This could change in the future as Tesla figures out how to best take advantage of its cabin cameras. However, it can see through regular glasses just fine – so eyeglass wearers, rejoice!
Attention monitoring unavailable, sunglasses use detected
Vehicles that do not have IR lights in the cabin will also not be able to take advantage of VBAM at night – as the cameras in vehicles without IR lights are unable to see at night. Tesla does offer a refit for vehicles to upgrade to IR-capable cameras – put in a service ticket if you’re interested through the Service Menu on the app.
If it cannot find your eyes due to any of these restrictions, the green light will not come on, and the regular wheel nags that you are used to will continue.
Warnings and Suspensions
If VBAM determines that you’re not paying attention – initially a screen warning will appear, telling you to pay attention to the road. This can be dismissed quickly by just reverting your attention to the road ahead of you. You won’t have to touch the steering wheel to dismiss the nag.
However, if you continue to not pay attention and the DMS detects improper usage, you will receive an Autopilot Strikeout, and FSD will disengage. Before a Strikeout occurs, there will be multiple auditory and visual warnings, ensuring you have a few moments to bring your attention back to supervising FSD.
You can receive up to 5 Strikeouts before the FSD becomes suspended. One strikeout will be lifted per 7-day period in which you do not receive a Strikeout. If you hit 5 Strikeouts, it could be up to 5 weeks before you clear all of them! If you receive another Strikeout within that 7-day period after an initial Strikeout, the 7-day period is reset.
Other Changes
Elon Musk has mentioned that V12.4 was supposed to be focused on user comfort, by reducing hard acceleration and braking. According to Musk, it should have a 5-10x improvement between user disengagements.
Early Access owners have mentioned that 12.4 tends to be more assertive and less hesitant when it comes to intersections, stop signs, and parking lots. Owners have also noticed improvements in the “lane dancing”, where FSD V12.3 would stray in between lanes for too long while changing lanes.
Of additional note is that Vision Autopark is slightly faster – but this is the same Vision Autopark speed increase that rolled out to customers who have already received the Spring Update. For everyone else, expect a 2-3x improvement in how fast Vision Autopark changes directions, and how fast it maneuvers in general. As of the Spring Update, it can now park in even tighter spaces.
Sadly, some previously announced features were missed out on in this release of FSD V12.4.1. Namely, the key features of Banish Autopark and Park Seek. For the time being, users will still have to disengage FSD and then engage Autopark once they find their parking spot.
Banish Autopark, or “Reverse Summon” was thought to arrive in V12.4 as part of the comfort update according, allowing you to choose a parking spot type preference, exit the vehicle, and then have the car park itself.
Additionally, Park Seek – which would allow FSD to automatically find a parking spot in a parking lot, and then engage Autopark automatically, was initially a confirmed feature, but is not present in this release.
Finally, Hand Gesture recognition was supposed to come in an update “later in May” – but given that FSD V12.4 has missed previous deadlines – no surprise to people familiar with the “2 week policy” – there is no confirmation yet if that feature has made it into this build. It is very possible that the employee in question may have been referring to V12.5 – which is also expected to bring vehicle-to-fleet communication.
Given that it just rolled out to employees yesterday, and then to “OG” FSD Beta owners today, we could expect 2024.15.5 – the version that contains V12.4.1 – to hopefully continue rolling out to customers next week. Everyone with an update under 2024.15.5 - so users on 2024.3.25, 2024.8.9, and 2024.14.11 – should be eligible to receive this update. The very few vehicles already on 2024.20 with the Adaptive Headlights functionality will have to wait a bit longer!
A new patent claimed by Tesla has revealed some additional details on the upcoming Robotaxi’s Sanitization System – which will automatically sanitize enclosed spaces. It discusses how Tesla expects to use this system, including some hints on the upcoming Robotaxi app. Rimac also recently announced their upcoming robotaxi, which looks a lot like what we may see in Tesla’s Cybercab.
Most interesting is that this patent isn’t strictly based on some specific systems in the Robotaxi itself but is rather based upon an overall routine and process for sanitizing enclosed spaces that are shared among multiple people, particularly around vehicle interiors. This means it is likely applicable to all of Tesla’s vehicles.
You can view the entire patent here, although we went through it all so you wouldn’t have to.
Sanitization
The sanitization patent is focused on observing and analyzing the conditions of the closed space and then generating a sanitization routine based on the conditions, and then finally executing it. This essentially means that the system will scan a vehicle, determine what kind of cleaning is required, and then conduct that cleaning.
Analysis - Interior & Exterior
Let’s take a look at the analysis portion first. There are a few key detection parameters – ambient temperature, humidity, the presence of pathogens or unclean air, and the presence or absence of certain conditions in the enclosed environment. Using a multitude of sensor data, including some from the vehicle itself, the system will create a sanitization plan.
The robotaxi's interior
Not a Tesla App
The sanitization plan doesn’t just include the interior of the vehicle – but can also consider external parameters like weather and vehicle usage history. Rain, snow, and mud could be some pretty big factors for a Robotaxi cleanup, and taking these into account is essential.
How It’ll Clean
Once the plan is generated, the system will utilize various sanitization routines, based on the plan that was generated. This can include using the HVAC systems, using UV lighting, using steam generators, and a few other processes. The system can also take into account whether the sanitization process can be accomplished by the resources available – e.g. if there is a human or humanoid robot available to accomplish some of the tasks.
There are a few basic methods described in the patent on how Tesla expects to sanitize vehicles, including blowing warm air toward the steering wheel, doors and windows, and the central display to sanitize. It also has a method to expose various parts of the vehicle, including the seats and seatbelts, to a sanitizing UV light.
There are some interesting and unique methods – using active or passive elements to create heat and sanitizing surfaces like the central touchscreen. That’s not all – the patent also talks about tilting the vehicle’s central display to reflect the sanitizing UV light around the vehicle. Tesla has some unique ideas on how to implement its automated sanitization process.
If there’s additional sanitization needed, the system can cooperate with external service robots (possibly Tesla’s Optimus), to sanitize the interior and exterior of the vehicle. It can also direct the Full Self Driving system to adjust the vehicle’s orientation, exposing certain parts of the interior to sunlight.
When and Where to Sanitize
Tesla expects this sanitization routine to begin running immediately after a passenger exits the vehicle, reducing downtime as much as possible between potential passengers. If the sanitization system identifies that deeper cleaning is needed, the system will redirect the vehicle in need of cleaning to a cleaning location, while another vehicle will be directed to the next potential passenger.
There are some Robotaxi-unique features, such as a disinfecting spray system and special disinfecting UV light that are not present in any of Tesla’s current vehicles. Whether these current vehicles will receive a refit or a refresh to include these features remains up in the air at this time, however, the patent did notably use the Model Y as the figure vehicle.
Some other features, such as using humidity, temperature, seatbelt retractors, seat adjustment motors, and motorized vents – are already in every Tesla vehicle.
Killing Germs
One of the most unique things about this patent is Tesla has looked at various airborne pathogens – such as SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), amongst others, and identified what temperatures and humidities will kill these off. It will use this information to change the ambient environment in the vehicle to one unsuitable for pathogens to survive, helping to prevent illnesses from transferring from one passenger to the next.
We’re going to see some unique things at Tesla’s Robotaxi unveiling on 8/8, and some more details of how this system functions will probably come up then. Sanitization of Robotaxis is absolutely one of the key steps that will help to build Tesla’s ambitious Robotaxi fleet – and we’re hoping to see more on how they expect to charge Robotaxis in the upcoming weeks.
Tesla has recently changed the language in its Foundation-series Cybertruck configuration and order invites and is reaching out to customers who have ordered the Tactical Gray Interior or Core Wheels.
Non-Foundation Delays
Tesla has added the following language to its order invites: “Due to continued high demand, we expect to deliver only the Foundation Series through late 2024.”
We previously reported that the foundation-series was ending soon, based on the Q&A answers from Elon Musk at the Tesla’s Shareholder Meeting. However, this no longer appears to be the case, and it seems the Foundation series is continuing for at least another quarter, into late 2024.
Here is the Cybertruck's new Tactical Grey interior color.
Tactical Gray, the updated darker interior for the Cybertruck, as well as the Core wheels, have been delayed. Limited vehicles with Tactical Gray started going out to customers this weekend, but the Core wheels haven’t been shipped just yet.
The default wheels, as well as the Core wheels, are both 20”, but the Core wheels offer lower rolling resistance and slightly more range. The Core wheels also have a smaller aero cover, but we haven’t seen these on a customer truck just yet.
Tesla has begun to reach out to customers offering them a free upgrade to the default wheels and offering them a vehicle sooner if they switch to the white interior instead of the Tactical Gray interior. Customers have also been informed that there may be a delay in receiving their vehicles if they stay with Tactical Gray or with the Core wheels.
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The official Tesla app only notifies you if your car is broken into. By installing Sentry Pro on your phone, you will be notified for all Sentry Mode events. Stay connected and avoid potential surprises by receiving notifications. Stop constantly checking the cameras to ensure safety. Check only when necessary, save battery and get peace of mind. Get a 7 day free trial here!
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