Will Tesla's Unsupervised FSD Require a Front Bumper Camera? [Opinion]

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With Unsupervised FSD just around the corner—at least in select U.S. states—and Tesla’s Robotaxi set to launch in Austin this June, what will the real requirements be for Unsupervised FSD?

Tesla’s latest vehicles, including the Cybertruck, Cybercab, and the refreshed Model Y, now feature a front bumper camera. However, as of FSD v13.2.8, the Cybertruck’s bumper camera remains unused for FSD and primarily serves as a helpful tool for parking and off-road driving.

With bumper cameras becoming more common across Tesla’s lineup, the question remains: will they eventually become a necessary component for Unsupervised FSD, or are they simply an added convenience for now?

Actually Smart Summon Needs Bumper Vision

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Every Tesla model that has the ability to use Actually Smart Summon occasionally rolls slightly forward or backward before exiting a parking stall. This movement helps the vehicle get a better view of what’s directly beneath the front lip of the hood before proceeding.

However, this behavior has led some vehicles to make contact with walls or posts, prompting the NHTSA to launch an investigation into Actually Smart Summon. The simple solution is to mount a lower front camera that allows the vehicle to see what’s directly in front of it when it wakes up.

The Cybertruck currently lacks access to Actually Smart Summon—or any Summon functionality, for that matter. Tesla hasn’t announced when the vehicle will receive one of its most advanced autonomy features. Given the vehicle’s height and its larger front blind spot, the delay likely stems from the need to integrate the bumper camera for improved visibility.

At the end of the day, Actually Smart Summon is essential for Unsupervised FSD. A fully autonomous vehicle must be capable of navigating crowded parking lots, reaching pickup points, and parking itself without human intervention.

Training Data and Cameras

We already know that adding a new vehicle to FSD can take months—but what about integrating training data from an entirely new camera and perspective? That process could take even longer, especially with a vehicle like the Cybertruck, which is larger and wider than Tesla’s other models.

We also know that the Cybercab—set to launch in Austin in just a few months—features a bumper camera to improve visibility below the front lip. Tesla doesn’t add new components without purpose; every part, from the camera and wiring to the housing and engineering, represents a calculated investment.

Given this, it’s reasonable to expect that Tesla is already using bumper camera data from the Cybertruck—and soon, the refreshed Model Y—to train an updated FSD model. Whether this model is focused on parking lot navigation and Actually Smart Summon or expands to broader FSD improvements on city streets and highways remains to be seen.

Compute and AI5

Tesla has already stated that the AI4 computer has unused compute power, but they’re running into memory limitations in future FSD builds due to the sheer volume of incoming data. That said, Tesla has hinted at optimizations to better manage memory on AI4.

Would integrating data from an additional camera overwhelm the system? Probably not in terms of compute, but memory efficiency remains a key area for improvement—especially as Tesla plans to triple both the model size and context window in upcoming FSD versions.

On the other hand, the Cybercab is set to launch with its own unique, more powerful AI5 computer. At the We, Robot autonomy event in October, Elon Musk confirmed that AI5 was designed for redundancy and higher safety. Tesla has been working on parallelizing FSD computations for some time—but we’ll explore that in a separate article.

Wrapping it Together

Putting it all together: the bumper camera has arrived, and Tesla doesn’t add hardware without a purpose. While it’s not yet in use for FSD, Tesla is likely gathering footage to train future models. The AI4 computer has the compute power to handle an additional data stream—but will Tesla actually integrate it?

If we were to go out on a limb, we’d say that Unsupervised FSD will likely require a bumper camera to be part of the Robotaxi network, but there’s another compelling reason. Tesla currently offers Supervised FSD for subscription and sale - but you can no longer buy FSD the way it used to be marketed. That changed back in September 2024, when they made adjustments to all their websites globally to list Supervised FSD as the product and feature that was being sold. That could have an impact on Tesla’s future plans with how they offer Unsupervised vs Supervised FSD.

So, will a bumper camera be necessary? We think so. Will it be a retrofit? Possibly. Tesla has already confirmed that they will retrofit HW3 vehicles with improved hardware in the future, meaning that other FSD hardware upgrades aren’t completely off the table.

However, retrofitting a bumper camera is complex, requiring extensive disassembly, wiring through the frunk, firewall, and into the AI computer. It’s possible that the camera will primarily be used for low-speed parking lot maneuvers—where supervision will be required—while Unsupervised FSD will only be available while driving on city streets and highways. The largest issue is simply what happens if the vehicle was asleep, and it can now only leave by driving forward — where it has a large blind spot.

While the exact role of the front bumper camera remains uncertain, its presence in newer models suggests it could be critical for a. fully autonomous vehicle. Whether it becomes a requirement for the vehicle to start driving from a parked position without anyone inside the vehicle, or whether it’ll only be required in parking lots or even to become a part of the Robotaxi network remains to be seen.

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Tesla’s New Signal Viewer Panel in Service Mode+ Allows You to View Real-Time Data

@scotsrule08 on X

Tesla’s latest software update, version 2025.2, brings new features to Service Mode, continuing the trend of improving in-vehicle diagnostics.

Currently, this feature is only available for vehicles with AMD Ryzen infotainment systems and requires Service Mode+, which is a subscription service aimed at technicians. Intel-powered vehicles aren’t supported yet, but we expect this feature to roll out to them as well unless hardware limitations prevent it.

Thanks to Spencer for providing an image of the panel in action.

Signal Viewer Panel

While update 2025.2.6 adds four service mode improvements, including updates to brake burnishing, charge port calibration, and noise recording panel improvements. In this article, we’ll focus on the new signal viewer panel.

This new panel offers a live data feed from selectable vehicle sensors. You select the signals you’re interested in and it’ll plot the signal on a graph. In addition to allowing you to view real-time signal data, it also allows you to record them.

The signals are searchable and can be easily added or removed from the panel. You can track up to 10 sensors, and the UI allows three of them to be viewable at once.

However, this is Service Mode and it’s more than just pretty looks. You can really dig down into these charts. You can pan them left and right through time, and tapping a specific point shows the exact value of that signal. The panel also supports pinch-to-zoom, enabling you to adjust the time scale across all panels simultaneously.

This feature is exclusive to Service Mode+, which requires a subscription to Tesla’s ToolBox3 software and a connection to a computer. It’s designed to help technicians diagnose issues related to signal quality, noise in the vehicle’s electrical systems, and signal variance in components during driving.

We’re excited to see Tesla’s continued focus on repairability, especially with additions like the Cybertruck’s Interactive Wiring Diagram and the launch of the Tesla Online Parts Catalog, which lets customers purchase parts directly.

Plus, with the reduced cost of ToolBox 3 subscriptions, even DIY enthusiasts now have access to tools that make Tesla repairs more accessible.

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Tesla Introduces New Model Y Variants in Europe; Ends Launch Series

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Tesla has updated its Model Y lineup in Europe, introducing new standard configurations while discontinuing the limited-edition Launch Series. With the new variants now available, European customers will have more choices and cheaper options to pick from.

The Launch Series and some of its exclusive features will no longer be offered—except in the UK, where it remains available alongside the new lineup.

New Models Introduced

Tesla’s new Model Y lineup in Europe includes three main variants. The prices vary slightly from country to country.

• Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD): Priced at €44,990, this model is the most affordable new Model Y, but it also has the shortest range and is missing a few features available on other trim levels.

• Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (LR RWD): Available for €49,990, this version is essentially the same as the RWD model, but with a larger battery. It has seen a €1,000 price increase compared to the outgoing Long Range RWD model.

• Long Range All-Wheel Drive (LR AWD): At €52,990, this model has seen a price drop of €2,000, making it a better deal than the previous LR AWD Model Y. This is also the only new Model Y to come with most of the same features as the Launch Series, including additional speakers, a subwoofer, premium materials inside the cabin and improved acceleration. Acceleration boost should also become available for this model, letting it match the performance of the Launch Series.

All Model Y variants come with all the improvements that we’ve discussed about the new Model Y, including the new front and rear light bars, improved aerodynamics, ventilated seats, improved heat and sound isolation, and the 8-inch rear touchscreen. Some exclusive options, like the Midnight Cherry Red paint, appear to no longer be available. However, Tesla has already said that they’ll be introducing new paint options for the Model Y in North America.

Compare Model Y Variants

Here’s how the various Model Y variants compare to each other:

Launch Series Ends

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The Launch Series, which debuted just weeks ago in Europe, has now been phased out. This limited-edition model was priced at €60,990 and included a suite of premium features comparable to a bundle deal you may find with other products. It came equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD), Acceleration Boost, and exclusive badging on the rear liftgate, door sill plates, and puddle lights.

While the Launch Series is no longer available for new orders in most European countries, customers can still get a similar vehicle by opting for the Long Range AWD model and manually adding premium features like FSD. Acceleration Boost, which was standard in the Launch Series, is expected to become available for purchase once these vehicles are delivered or soon afterward. However, some exclusive elements, such as badging and trim details, will remain unique to the discontinued edition.

For now, the UK remains an exception, still offering the Launch Series alongside the newly introduced models.

Performance Model Still to Come

With Tesla now introducing the expected variants of the refreshed Model Y, one notable absence is the Performance model. While the Launch Series was fast due to the Acceleration Boost addon, there’s no doubt the Performance version will be in a league of its own.

What we saw Tesla do with the 2024+ Model 3 Performance variant was more than just using binned motors. The vehicle featured unique bumpers, a spoiler, an improved suspension, sport seats, Track Mode V3 and other features that made the vehicle stand out compared to the Model 3 AWD.

The Performance version of the new Model Y is expected to become available later this year, however, expect it to carry a $5-$8k premium over the AWD model.

Other Regions to Follow

As Europe phases out the Launch Series, other regions are expected to see similar changes. With the other models now revealed, owners in other regions have a better idea of whether they should buy the Launch Series or wait for the additional models to arrive.

Tesla naturally adjusts its offerings based on market demand, and if sales of the Launch Series remain strong in other parts of the world, Tesla will likely wait it out a little longer before offering the other models.

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