Musk believes owners will see a big improvement in Tesla's latest auto-sensing wiper updates
LegendaryOutlaw/Reddit
On the heels of last week's wiper news about Tesla's auto-sensing feature, CEO Elon Musk has proclaimed that "wipers will be super good." This declaration seems to center on the recent rollout of the Autowiper v4 system, indicating a shift away from the previously hyped 'Deep Rain' concept.
Retracing the Path to Autowiper v4
While Tesla's auto wiper system had shortcomings, the company has taken note of user feedback to refine and upgrade the technology. Musk's tweet today brings attention to this effort, sparking speculation and excitement among Tesla owners.
The Autowiper v4 is a testament to Tesla's commitment to improving its driver experience, promising to deliver more precise and responsive wiper control in various weather conditions. This development represents the company's commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and customer experience.
Pausing the 'Deep Rain' Concept
Musk's tweet also coincides with reports that Tesla may be stepping back from its 'Deep Rain' neural net. Once touted as the definitive solution to wiper sensitivity issues, the 'Deep Rain' feature can now be disabled internally in the new FSD Beta 11.4.2 release according to Tesla hacker, GreenTheOnly.
This unexpected turn of events has caused a buzz in the Tesla community. While some express disappointment, others see it as a strategic move to streamline the auto wiper system, shifting focus to the promising Autowiper v4.
Harnessing Surround Video for Enhanced Rain Detection
Musk apologized for the past performance of Tesla's auto wipers and revealed a key update in the tweet. Tesla is transitioning from a single camera, single frame neural net to a surround video system. This means the company is compiling video from all onboard cameras into a 360-degree view, which the neural net will then analyze.
Notably, this upgrade reflects Musk's vision of fully autonomous vehicles and how they may transform car ownership. The system can gain a comprehensive understanding of its surroundings by utilizing multiple camera feeds. This move promises improved rain detection and signifies a step toward Tesla's self-driving goals.
Embracing the Future: The Role of Autowiper v4
As Tesla continues to innovate, the Autowiper v4 system could play a key role in overcoming the challenges previously faced by the auto wiper system. Integrating all onboard cameras promises a better understanding of weather conditions, potentially increasing the system's efficiency and accuracy.
While in its early days, the Autowiper v4 represents an exciting advancement in Tesla's technological capabilities. It shows that Tesla is listening to its user base and remains committed to delivering improvements and upgrades that directly address the needs and concerns of its drivers.
What the Future Holds
The shelving of the 'Deep Rain' concept and the introduction of the Autowiper v4 system marks a critical juncture for Tesla's auto wiper technology. The shift to a surround video system demonstrates Tesla's unwavering commitment to innovation and user experience improvement.
While these developments have caused a stir in the Tesla community, the real test will come when Tesla enables v4 and lets drivers experience the new system. As the anticipation grows, the spotlight remains on Tesla as we wait to see if these updates deliver on their promise. The story of Tesla's Autowiper system is far from over, and it will be fascinating to watch it unfold.
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Rendering of what Tesla's license plate feature could look like
Not a Tesla App
Tesla update 2024.38 has started rolling out to several regions and vehicles. Thanks to Tesla hacker Greentheonly, we have a behind-the-scenes look at some new features coming to Teslas.
License Plate Display
According to Greentheonly, it looks like Tesla may soon let you display your actual license plate in the vehicle’s visualization on the screen. In our article, The Most Request Tesla Features, several readers suggested displaying the vehicle’s license plate in the visualization instead of a blank, white plate.
It looks like Tesla will be doing just that, at least in China. Green found references that appear to conclude that you’ll be able to display your vehicle’s plate on screen. This will likely be user input, so you could have it say anything you’d like, and it doesn’t have to be your actual license plate.
For many owners, who may find it difficult to remember their license plate, this could serve a practical purpose in addition to adding to the visualization's realism.
While Green was only able to say it’ll be available in China, we expect this is due to China’s software development team working on it and that it’ll eventually be released worldwide.
While code for this feature was found in update 2024.38, we may not be turned on in China yet. We suspect this feature may be a strong candidate for Tesla’s upcoming holiday update.
FSD Hardware Version Display
As part of the 2024.38 update, Tesla has now made it easy to determine whether your vehicle includes Hardware 3 or Hardware 4. You can now simply navigate to Controls > Software and tap Additional Vehicle Information. In addition to other hardware information about your vehicle, your Autopilot hardware version will now be listed as well.
You can see whether your vehicle has HW2.5, HW3, or AI4. This in-car display is useful, but if you don’t have access to the vehicle, you can always use our guide on how to determine the hardware version of a Tesla.
New Battery Health Test & Service Mode Improvements
Green found some additional things as well. There’s a new and improved Battery Health Test. The new test will show you how your car scores compared to similar vehicles in the Tesla fleet.
In addition, maintenance records can now be permanently stored “in the car.” It doesn’t appear that this feature is activated yet, but it’s likely in active development with some parts leaking out in the 2024.38 update.
Tesla has included various Service Mode improvements and new visualizations in this update.
Mr Li on X came across some covered-up Project Juniper vehicles recently and he managed to get various shots of the vehicle.
Juniper Images
This front image reveals what looks like two rows of lights, possibly confirming the front light bar for the Model Y refresh — similar to the one on the Cybercab.
The rear side has a lot of lights on it!
Mr Li on X
The rear side shows a ton of brake lights, but it’s not clear why. While it looks like the Model Y refresh will also feature a rear light bar similar to the Cybertruck, there isn’t strong evidence of that in this photo.
Mr Li on X
There's an obvious set of lights at the bottom, so it looks like the Model Y refresh will be similar to the new Model 3 where the bottom lights can operate as brake lights when the one-piece tail lights and trunk are up.
Mr Li on X
In the last photo, we see that the overall form factor of the refreshed Model Y will remain unchanged, and Tesla is focusing the changes on the front and rear ends of the vehicle, much like the Model 3 refresh. However, in this one shot, we can also see what appears to be red light leaking out of the rear camera cover opening, possibly due to the rear light bar.
The Model Y is not only Tesla’s best-selling vehicle but also the world’s best-selling car in 2023. This year, it’s expected to be the best-selling vehicle in the United States and again in the world, so this refresh will be huge for Tesla.
@DominicBRNKMN made another fantastic set of concepts based on these new images. Given he had the most accurate Model 3 Highland concept before the official launch, we’re pretty sure his latest work be close here as well.
@DominicBRNKMN
We’re super excited to see the eventual reveal of Project Juniper, which is expected in the first half of 2025. However, expect to see a few more leaks before production kicks off at Giga Shanghai.
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