Model 3 Equipped With Interior Camera

Aug 1, 2017 at 11:46 AM

The Model 3 is equipped with an interior camera located just above the rear-view mirror, as noted in a TMC thread.

Electrek confirmed with Tesla that the Model 3 is equipped with a camera, but it will only become active after future software updates. No further details were provided.

TMC Member WK057 noticed the camera in an image, which he shared to Twitter.

Am I the only one that noticed the @TeslaMotors #Model3 has a camera above the rear-view mirror facing inside the car? @elonmusk's #SpyCam?😂 pic.twitter.com/WYQnRwmklG

— Jason Hughes (@wk057) August 1, 2017

Speculation is that the camera will monitor driver engagement, a requirement to achieve level 3 autonomous driving where the driver is a backup when there’s a need to transfer controls. There’s also talk that the cameras will be leveraged for Tesla Network, a ride-sharing business that would enable Tesla owners to monetize their car as part of an autonomous taxi fleet.

Photo: @wk057

Contributor

View all 1313 articles

View thread (58 replies)

Lloyd

Well-Known Member

Aug 1, 2017

possibly monitoring the drivers head position and gaze to assure attentiveness when using autopilot?

gregincal

Active Member

Aug 1, 2017

That looks just like the auto-dimming sensor to me.

wk057

Senior Tinkerer

Aug 1, 2017

It's definitely a camera.

Reactions: mhan00, AnxietyRanger, vdiv and 5 others

Reciprocity

Active Member

Aug 1, 2017

Lloyd said:
possibly monitoring the drivers head position and gaze to assure attentiveness when using autopilot?

When I first started contemplating FSD and the Tesla network and what that would mean, the first thing I thought is that you would want to monitor the cabin to make sure no one was vandalizing the car or having sex in the car. Or generally to know who to go to if there was an issue and to keep them honest. It could have a duo purpose of course, but I do know that I would want that feature if I where to put my car into the network.

K-MTG

Sunshade Captain of TMC

Aug 1, 2017

wk057 said:
It's definitely a camera.

Saw your Tweet...any idea what its for? Does your inside source have any idea?

chipmunk

Member

Aug 1, 2017

Reciprocity said:
When I first started contemplating FSD and the Tesla network and what that would mean, the first thing I thought is that you would want to monitor the cabin to make sure no one was vandalizing the car or having sex in the car. Or generally to know who to go to if there was an issue and to keep them honest. It could have a duo purpose of course, but I do know that I would want that feature if I where to put my car into the network.

This is my vote.

Ubbe

Member

Aug 1, 2017

Videoconferencing might be another use, but security cam or gaze control are more likely.

Garlan Garner

Banned

Aug 1, 2017

Is this what he is talking about?

Tesla Model 3 is equipped with a driver-facing camera for Autopilot and Tesla Network

Zaphod

Galaxy President (former)

Aug 1, 2017

Oh, better get my tinfoil hat readjusted. I know Elon wants to spy on me.

Reactions: electracity, labfm, WarpedOne and 2 others

CarlitoDoc

Member

Aug 1, 2017

You know "who" is watching !!!

Reactions: Robert831 and labfm

Garlan Garner

Banned

Aug 1, 2017

The Electrek article says this....which I don't understand.

"Several autonomous driving experts believe that a driver-facing camera to monitor driver engagement is needed for level 3 autonomous driving".

I'm not sure why autonomous driving needs to know if I'm engaged or not.

Reactions: boiler81, cizUK and BerTX

Garlan Garner

Banned

Aug 1, 2017

hmmmmm. Who trusts this quote from the article?

"Of course, there’s also a downside. Some might be concerned about privacy. It’s something that the MIT research addressed. The collected data was kept on secure servers and the people could never have to actually watch the footage. It could simply generate logs based on computer vision."

Barklikeadog

Active Member

Aug 1, 2017

Of course it will be kept on secure servers... until you are in an accident, claim it's not your fault, and then Tesla releases your video to the public like they do

Reactions: Az_Rael and DrivingRockies

dsvick

Closed

Aug 1, 2017

It is to monitor your head height and the viewing angle of your eyes so that the HUD is displayed properly and with the correct viewing angle. .... [ducks for cover]

Reactions: JoaoD, pangolina, scottf200 and 5 others

SoCalGuy

Active Member

Aug 1, 2017

Hopefully they offer dash cam features so we won't need an aftermarket solution!

Reactions: JoaoD, Robert831, Kacey Green and 1 other person

McRat

Well-Known Member

Aug 1, 2017

Practical applications:

"Sarah? Are you SURE that eyeliner is right for you?"

"Bob, you've selected Club Paradise for your destination. Uh... dunno how to tell you this, but you'd be better off picking up girls at Walmart..."

"Holmes? There are about 20 cops between you and your destination. Let me re-route you so you don't get pulled over for no reason."

"You've got something stuck in your teeth."

"Stop! You wore that same dress last time you visited the Thompsons. Go change, and I'll call them saying you're having car trouble, which isn't ACTUALLY a lie."

Reactions: Mrs Rubbertoe, boiler81, insaneoctane and 6 others

chillaban

Active Member

Aug 1, 2017

Garlan Garner said:
hmmmmm. Who trusts this quote from the article?

"Of course, there’s also a downside. Some might be concerned about privacy. It’s something that the MIT research addressed. The collected data was kept on secure servers and the people could never have to actually watch the footage. It could simply generate logs based on computer vision."

I find it ironic that they say that, right next to a thumbnail showing their ability to watch and annotate the face tracking footage.

Stolz25

Member

Aug 1, 2017

Garlan Garner said:
The Electrek article says this....which I don't understand.

"Several autonomous driving experts believe that a driver-facing camera to monitor driver engagement is needed for level 3 autonomous driving".

I'm not sure why autonomous driving needs to know if I'm engaged or not.

Level 3 is key there...