SUGGESTIONS FOR LEARNING AUTOPILOT IN STEPS.
garygid (Hot Air Balloon Commercial Pilot and Instructor rating)
It is probably wiser, and even safer, to Master each step before continuing
to the next step. Each step has its own desireable skill set, including both
observational and operational techniques, and situational limitations.
This procedure might not be for everybody, but some have found
it to be a good suggestion, so I share it with you.
Note that the AutoPilot (AP) functions are not programmed to
handle intersections, cross traffic, signal lights, stop signs,
human directions (like in construction areas), pedestrians, and
all manner of street and city situations. At this point (revision 2.7.56),
AP is intended for use on well-divided, limited-access, not-to-curvy
highways with very suitably and well painted lane markings
or edges on both sides of the lane. Still, there are many situations
of weather, sun or shadow, dirt, rain, snow, fog, etc. that it cannot
handle well. True, some people are trying these functions
"in town" or on non-limited-access roads, but I suggest that you
avoid this temptation, at least until you have become an
expert in recognizing and handling the "tricky" AP situations.
AP, as it is now, is intended for use AFTER the onramp and
merge into a suitable lane of traffic, up to BEFORE you begin
to slow for an exit or freeway interchange. However, the AP
does quite a remarkably good job in the many, many miles of
situations that it can recognize, and handle, properly.
1. Normal driving skills as applied to the Tesla.
Accelerating and slowing, stopping quickly and gently, steering
and parking ... all these are a bit different with a heavy vehicle.
If you are not completely comfortable with these, perhaps
best to not try AutoPilot (AP) until you get more experience.
However, enable the crash warning, setting it to "Early".
My wife still needs to master this step, as a first-time Tesla driver.
2. Lane Departure Warning
Get familiar with how the car detects Lanes, compared to
what you see as lane markings. This is suggested so that
you can better understand where the AP has difficulty with
lane detection, and can better anticipate the situations
where you will need to retake control from AP.
You will probably gain observational skills in seeing
different kinds of lane edge markings, and (optionally)
develop the steering skills to stay in lanes, and notice the
speed control needed to safely navigate lanes of all types.
You will be better able to answer "Why did the AP do that?".
3. Learn Concepts of normal Cruise Control (CC)
Turning On and Off, Activating, speed setting, speed increase
and decrease, Deactivating, and resuming manual speed control
should all become familiar concepts. With typical "normal" CC you
can crash right into something ahead. Note that a Tesla with active
AutoPilot (AP) functions does not allow "normal" CC operation.
4. Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC)
Using the "CC" in the AP Tesla is very much like normal CC, except
the car will try to detect a vehicle ahead of you, in your lane, and slow
down, if necessary to maintain a suitable following gap, which
shortens as speed decreases, and lenghtens as speed increases.
The settings are something like half-second intervals, from 1 (the
closest) to 7 (the longest gap). I recommend 7, at least for learning.
Learn how the car handles getting close, and what happens as cars
cut in or across in front of you. Also learn well what happens when
the car in front of you exits your lane.
The TACC has evolved over the last 8 months to be rather good
about what it was intended to do. Future improvements are likely
to be able to slow for curves ahead.
Note that the current TACC (in revision 2.7.56) does NOT slow for curves,
interchange lanes, exit lanes or curves, etc. Learn well the several situations
where you need to disable TACC and take over manual speed control.
These include traffic merging into your lane, stopped traffic or obstructions
ahead, or you merging into other traffic (the TACC is not yet programmed
to handle these situations). Be able to recognize and handle them all.
5. Auto-Steering (AS)
This is the latest AP addition: Steering in a sufficiently well-marked lane,
lane edges or boundries well defined, with TACC automatically enabled
for the in-lane speed control. Only gentle curves, and only when taken
at suitably slow speeds. It is a first release, a Beta version, which a wise
person would use with extreme caution, intently aware of the highway,
markings, traffic, etc. and always prepared to not only take control, but
to inhibit any error that the AS might be starting to make.
Of course, some might try to blame the car or Tesla when they crash.
Perhaps these folks were not "sufficiently wise".
Note that to achieve this overriding of the AP, when required or prudent,
the driver must at least be feeling the little twitches of the steering wheel,
in addition to being intently aware of the road situation. A tiny twich the
wrong way, be prepared to stop the motion of the steering wheel, and
resume control. Feeling the "twiches" lets you learn what AS is trying
to do, and have a much better chance of catching it before the car
moves very much in some unexpected manner.
So, avoid watching the car and the lane on the dashboard, and be
more than normally aware of the road and traffic situation, perhaps
even looking forward more than in normal driving for situations that
the AS or TACC cannot handle well. As your skills get better, you
will be able to relax more, but it is likely that you will have become
a much more aware driver.
Note: Step 5 is too much stress for my wife, at least at the moment.
6. Assisted "Auto" Lane Changing
Leave this until you can easily handle the Beta AS limitations,
then try it first on good lanes with no other traffic around.
Gradually learn what it does, making sure that the lane-changing
is safe to attempt, and how to regain control when necessary.
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Notes:
Step 2 is included primarily so you can become familiar with how the
car is seeing the lane markings, while you are still in total control.
Later, AP will use those perceived lane markings to try to drive your car.
You might be better at recognizing situations where AP will have trouble.
Such is my thinking, cheers, Gary.