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Autopilot blinded, disengaged by sun on interstate

Discussion in 'Model 3' started by ladysbff, Dec 14, 2020.

  1. ladysbff

    ladysbff Member

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    Thanks for the reference point. Do you think it's just particularly strong sunlight lately? I had washed my car recently. Also my auto wipers seem worse than ever.
     
  2. stonelance

    stonelance Member

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    I think so. We have been having a lot of clear days lately and it is almost the shortest day of the year right now. It will be interesting to see if the FSD update will make things any better. Or worse...
     
  3. El joe

    El joe Member

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    My EAP’s been blinded a few times by the sun. Luckily no one’s been near us when it’s happened cause the disengagement has caused us to swerve a bit into an adjacent lane before I was able to react.
     
  4. ladysbff

    ladysbff Member

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    Yesterday morning EAP disengaged twice (take over now) on my morning commute. 5 am, still dark but clear skies, well lit interstate, dry, 4 lanes with few other cars. Had just hand washed my car over Christmas, cameras were definitely clean.
     
  5. KenC

    KenC Active Member

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    Keep track of software versions when this happens. I know when I had v48.12 it seemed the front cameras were more sensitive to light. v48.26 seems back to normal.
     
  6. Nickage87

    Nickage87 Member

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    Now imagine your robotaxi is riding some customers and this happens, everyone is dead and you are responsible.

    Just a reminder we should have robotaxis in two days, and FSD as well.
     
    • Like x 1
  7. P3dStealth

    P3dStealth Member

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    Happens to me once in a while. It's one of the many reasons I don't think robo taxi will ever exist with current hardware. I'm in NY it's not even like there is a lot of low sun.

    Sometimes it stays engaged but you get a side camera blocked alert. Guess the side cameras don't matter enough.
     
    • Helpful x 1
  8. ladysbff

    ladysbff Member

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    I was on v10.2 2020.48.12.1 yesterday morning, but a previous version on the day time drive.
     
    • Informative x 1
  9. kurtatx

    kurtatx Member

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    This is the primary reason why your car will never be a robotaxi. There are just far too many cases where the cars are blinded.
     
  10. Altes

    Altes Member

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    Happens to me TWICE every single day as i drive to work at sunrise and return at sunset. This is why tesla will never have self driving capability you need video and Lidar for FSD
     
    • Informative x 1
  11. Altes

    Altes Member

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    Meanwhile at the tesla product development meeting...
    upload_2020-12-29_18-56-15.png
     
    • Funny x 2
    • Like x 1
  12. Mr X

    Mr X Future Martian

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    Full self driving by the end of 2020 though lol
     
  13. Gasaraki

    Gasaraki Active Member

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    This has maybe happened to me once in the 6 months i've had the car.
     
  14. JBT66

    JBT66 Member

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    I get this pretty regularly driving west in the evenings in Tucson, AZ.
    It’s annoying but pretty expected when the light hits just right. I can barely see my self but can use my visor to gain visibility.
     
  15. Brock-WI

    Brock-WI Member

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    last fall there was a pint where I was heading in to the sun every day at about the same time and every day it would shut off. I can understand why it can't "see", but why oh why can't we have dumb cruise control as a backup? I can't hold my speed steady anymore after being soiled by cruise for the past 30 years.

    We have also had it disabled for humidity inside the car, I am guessing fogging in front of the cameras, heavy rain and often in snow as it blocks sensors and cameras pretty regularly, again a plain old cruise control would be a great backup option...
     
    • Informative x 1
  16. Candleflame

    Candleflame Active Member

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    get it quite often when the sun is setting in australia. something to do with the angle i guess.
     
  17. ladysbff

    ladysbff Member

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    Agree that dumb cruise control would be a good back up, but I can't see them offering that for several reasons.

    I haven't driven a non-Tesla new car in a while - do other manufacturers have TACC that reverts to regular CC as a back up?
     
  18. Nickage87

    Nickage87 Member

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    Usually comes as three different functions: CC + Lane Keep + Dynamic Radar CC. So you can use all of them independently.
     
    • Informative x 1
  19. North75

    North75 Member

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    I had it happen for the first time a week or so ago. I initially thought it was sun glare because the sun was pretty low and shining directly into the camera, but when I got out at my destination a few minutes later, I looked at the pillar camera and there was definitely condensation in there blocking it.

    I did a quick search for how to get rid of pillar condensation and the consensus was to run the AC. I cranked the fan up for 5 minutes and the condensation went away.

    I suspect people are experiencing temporary condensation. Maybe the sun shining on the pillar causes it to warm slightly which causes it to form.
    It might only last a few minutes though, so it could be clear by the time you get out and check.

    I washed my car the day before this happened.
     
  20. Brock-WI

    Brock-WI Member

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    Ladysbff, yes most of the other cars that have TACC fall back to regular cc if for whatever reason they aren't working. I do agree though I bet it is so people are used to the car breaking automatically, but in regular cc mode it wouldn't and that might be an issue. Again a big warning that the car won't break works for me.

    North75 we have run in to that as well, cranking the defrost usually clears that one up, but the sun straight out where the sun blinds the driver as well, usually blinds the front camera :)
     
    • Like x 1

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