Tesla’s Sentry Mode keeps the vehicle’s cameras active and various sensors ready to record if there is any activity that the vehicle identifies as suspicious.
Sentry Mode is like a 24/7 home security system with 360-degree cameras for your Tesla. In addition to recording from the vehicle’s various cameras, Tesla recently added the ability for the vehicle to alert you when there is suspicious activity.
The vehicle owners will receive a notification from the Tesla app with a short video clip of the activity. However, not all Sentry Mode events result in a notification or video being sent. So, let’s dig into how Sentry Mode’s mobile notifications work.
How to Enable Video Notifications
You’ll need to ensure that Sentry Mode and Dashcam are enabled to receive video notifications as they’re both disabled by default due to the amount of power Sentry Mode uses.
You’ll also need to be subscribed to Tesla’s Premium Connectivity and have a USB drive inserted into the glovebox USB port (or middle console in older vehicles). By default, all Teslas from 2020 and later are equipped with a pre-formatted USB flash drive that supports Sentry Mode recordings.
While “Camera-Based Detection” doesn’t need to be enabled to receive video notifications, we recommend enabling it if available so that Sentry Mode captures all events involving your vehicle.
Sentry Mode video notifications are currently limited to the iPhone and iPad, but there will likely be Android support in the future.
Video Notifications Details
Ok. Is this new Sentry Mode alarm mobile notification with video new to me or everyone? pic.twitter.com/vL5UxfjO4Z
Each video notification is 60 seconds long. You can tap on your notification to view the video directly, or also go into the app to view recent video notifications. The video notifications are located under Security & Drivers > Sentry Mode Recording Previews.
In addition to receiving a video of the Sentry event, Tesla will also save the same one-minute notification video to your vehicle’s USB drive in addition to the other Sentry Mode footage.
Tesla has confirmed that all preview videos are end-to-end encrypted and can't be accessed by Tesla.
What Triggers a Video Notification
While Sentry Mode will record quite a few events, and display them for the user when they return, only certain events will trigger the threshold for mobile notifications.
Tesla describes two specific parameters that will trigger a video notification:
the vehicle alarm is triggered, or
a threat to the vehicle is detected that is caused by sudden jerky motions
Sentry Mode records various other events such as if a person walks by very closely to your vehicle. This may cause the vehicle to pulse its headlights or display a message on the screen, but it will not result in a notification being sent to the app.
Regional Availability
Sentry Mode’s mobile notifications are limited to certain regions due to local laws. The feature is available in North America, Australia, and most parts of Asia.
Who Receives Video Notifications
It’s important to keep in mind that anything that triggers Sentry Mode’s mobile notification threshold will immediately alert all mobile app keyholders of the vehicle. This does not include guest drivers but does include other Tesla account holders with whom you may have shared vehicle access.
Commercial Alerts
If your vehicle is part of a commercial fleet, it will also notify the fleet managers on the Tesla Fleet Dashboard, and the 1-minute clip will be viewable through the Fleet Dashboard. Full-length clips will still need to be accessed on a per-vehicle basis, even through the Commercial Fleet API.
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Tesla’s Cybertruck has officially earned a 5-Star Safety Rating from the NHTSA—an impressive achievement given the vehicle’s design. The achievement demonstrates Tesla’s engineering prowess. As one engineer points out, it wasn’t an easy feat.
Interestingly, the NHTSA only recently disclosed the results, despite the crash tests being completed a while ago. According to Lars Moravy, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, the team had been aware of the 5-star rating for quite some time. While the reason for the delay remains unclear, now that the results are public, Tesla’s engineers can finally share how they achieved the rating.
Crumple Zones
Wes Morril, the Cybertruck’s Lead Engineer, wrote about the crash test video on X recently, addressing the claims that the Cybertruck doesn’t have a crumple zone. He also posted a side-by-side video (below) of the engineering analysis and the crash test itself.
Engineered Crash Safety
There’s a lot of engineering precision at play when a Cybertruck is involved in a crash. Unlike traditional crash structures that rely on crash cans and collapse points, the Cybertruck’s front gigacasting is designed to absorb and redirect impact forces in a highly controlled manner.
It all starts with the bumper beam, which crushes within the first few milliseconds of a high-speed impact. At the same time, the vehicle’s sensors rapidly analyze the crash dynamics and determine the optimal deployment of safety restraints, including airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners. These split-second actions are crucial in keeping occupants safe.
As the crash progresses, the vehicle’s structure deforms in a carefully engineered sequence. The drive unit cradle bends, directing the solid drive unit downward and out of the way, allowing the gigacasting to begin absorbing impact forces.
The casting crushes cell by cell, methodically dissipating energy in a controlled manner. This gradual deceleration reduces the g-forces transferred to occupants, making the crash much less severe. As the gigacast begins crushing, the safety restraints are deployed.
As Wes points out in his post - you can see how accurate the virtual analysis and modeling were. The video shows the simulated crash side by side with the real-life crash test and they’re almost identical. All that virtual testing helps provide feedback into the loop to design a better and safer system - one that is uniquely different than any other vehicle on the road.
All the armchair experts claimed the Cybertruck has no crumple zone and I get it, the proportions seem impossible. It was a tough one and there is a lot of engineering that went into it. Let me break it down for you:
Tesla has pioneered the use of single-piece castings for the front and rear sections of their vehicles, thanks to its innovative Gigapress process. Many automakers are now following suit, as this approach allows the crash structure to be integrated directly into the casting.
This makes the castings not only safer but also easier to manufacture in a single step, reducing costs and improving repairability. For example, replacing the entire rear frame of a Cybertruck is estimated to cost under $10,000 USD, with most of the expense coming from labor, according to estimates shared on X after high-speed rear collisions.
These insights come from Sandy Munro’s interview (posted below) with Lars Moravy, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, highlighting how these advancements contribute to the improvements in Tesla’s latest vehicles, including the New Model Y.
However, with the new Model Y, Tesla has decided to go a different route and eliminated the front gigacast.
No Front Casting
Tesla’s factories aren’t equipped to produce both front and rear castings for the Model Y. Only Giga Texas and Giga Berlin used structural battery packs, but these were quickly phased out due to the underwhelming performance of the first-generation 4680 battery.
Tesla has gone back to building a common body across the globe, increasing part interchangeability and reducing supply chain complexity across the four factories that produce the Model Y. They’ve instead improved and reduced the number of unique parts up front to help simplify assembly and repair.
There is still potential for Tesla to switch back to using a front and rear casting - especially with their innovative unboxed assembly method. However, that will also require Tesla to begin using a structural battery pack again, which could potentially happen in the future with new battery technology.
Rear Casting Improvements
The rear casting has been completely redesigned, shedding 7 kg (15.4 lbs) and cutting machining time in half. Originally weighing around 67 kg (147 lbs), the new casting is now approximately 60 kg (132 lbs).
This 15% weight reduction improves both vehicle dynamics and range while also increasing the rear structure’s stiffness, reducing body flex during maneuvers.
Tesla leveraged its in-house fluid dynamics software to optimize the design, resulting in castings that resemble organic structures in some areas and flowing river patterns in others. Additionally, manufacturing efficiency has dramatically improved—the casting process, which originally took 180 seconds per part, has been reduced to just 75 seconds, a nearly 60% time reduction per unit.
Advancements in die-casting machines and cooling systems have allowed @Tesla to dramatically reduce cycle times and improve dimensional stability. pic.twitter.com/WB5ji67rvV
Tesla’s new casting method incorporates conformal cooling, which cools the die directly within the gigapress. Tesla has been refining the die-casting machines and collaborating with manufacturers to improve the gigapress process.
In 2023, Tesla patented a thermal control unit for the casting process. This system uses real-time temperature analysis and precise mixing of metal streams to optimize casting quality. SETI Park, which covers Tesla’s manufacturing patents on X, offers a great series for those interested in learning more.
The new system allows Tesla to control the flow of cooling liquid, precisely directing water to different parts of the die, cooling them at varying rates. This enables faster material flow and quicker cooling, improving both dimensional stability and the speed of removing the part from the press for the next stage.
With these new process improvements, Tesla now rolls out a new Model Y at Giga Berlin, Giga Texas, and Fremont every 43 seconds—an astounding achievement in auto manufacturing. Meanwhile, Giga Shanghai operates two Model Y lines, delivering a completed vehicle every 35 seconds.
![A Look at the Tesla Cybertruck’s Crumple Zones [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/cybertruck/cybertruck-crash-test.webp/e43ef2433bd6e44ae8db63421604a4fb/cybertruck-crash-test.jpg)
