AutoPilot Buddy now officially banned in USA!

[MelaniainLA]

FYI for all those (not so wise) people who planned to defeat the nags with AutoPilot Buddy, the NHTSA has banned their sales in USA effective immediately:

Device to trick Tesla Autopilot banned from sale in US - CNN Money https://apple.news/AWrFQS_QmRwq9gPLz5ZXszA

Better buy oranges before they’re banned for the same reason!!

 

[bisoned]

people spent $200 on this? ffs

 

[MP3Mike]

Weird, I was going to link to this from the old Autopilot Buddy thread, but it seems that that thread is totally gone. (Or maybe my search foo is really low today.)

 

[boonedocks]

people spent $200 on this? ffs

Sadly they'll probably resale them for triple their price on ebay now. smh smh smh

 

[MP3Mike]

I like the little information bubble on their site: "We are not taking orders inside the U.S.A. at this time. We are hopeful to resolve this by as quickly as possible."

Apparently they don't put as much care into their web site as the many hours of painstaking hand labor to make each one of their death donuts.

 

[bisoned]

Sadly they'll probably resale them for triple their price on ebay now. smh smh smh

There's an ass for every seat..... one can create their own hack fairly easily and cheaply, if they are so inclined.

 

[HX_Guy]

Funny, I was thinking about Autopilot Buddy this morning while driving.

While most of us dont like the super frequent nags, I also dont know how many of us would go to the length of defeating the nag system.
And you have to ask yourself why, at least I did. For me, if Tesla allows say a minute, or five, or 10 between nags, I personally feel that they are confident in the product being capable of allowing that sort of interval. Using a cheating device makes it feel like Im taking the responsibility in my own hands, and I guess I'd rather fall in line and obey what they recommend to do, which is be nagged and let the car know Im actively still "driving".

 

[TaoJones]

Ha.

Haha.

Bwhahahahahahahaheeheehohohaha.

As citrus growers everywhere breathe a /sigh of relief.

 

[DarkMatter]

Watch - they will implement eye tracking next on AP2.5. Then these clowns will start selling a mask with fake eyes on it so you can ignore that system.

 

[richrootes]

Good. Clowns designing and selling such items are one of the reasons we are where we are with Autopilot nags...

 

[d21mike]

I wonder who brought it to the attention of the NHTSA? Tesla has increased the number of NAGS from about 1min to about 20secs (at highway speeds) and at about the same time NHTSA bands the sell of this device. Sure seems that NHTSA is behind all of it.

 

[HankLloydRight]

Weird, I was going to link to this from the old Autopilot Buddy thread, but it seems that that thread is totally gone. (Or maybe my search foo is really low today.)

Neither could I. I don't know if they requested that the thread be deleted (what does that tell you), or the TMC site admins didn't want the liability of advertising such a product (more likely).

 

[MelaniainLA]

I wonder who brought it to the attention of the NHTSA? Tesla has increased the number of NAGS from about 1min to about 20secs (at highway speeds) and at about the same time NHTSA bands the sell of this device. Sure seems that NHTSA is behind all of it.

I'll bet anything that this isn't a coincidence an NHTSA made a confidential settlement with Tesla after all its recent AP crash-related investigations: If you don't want us to ban AP of any kind in the USA as a result of recent safety incidents (most of which have been the fault of goons who don't use as directed and ruined it for the rest of us), you must:

1. Increase the nag interval for ALL AP cars to such a frequency that it's nearly impossible to not hold the wheel while on AP.
2. Support us in banning AP-defeating devices like AutopIlot Buddy by announcing in public that it is illegal and unsafe to use AP-defeating devices
3. Develop and push out safer AP features ASAP.
4. Change advertising and promotion, and train sales staff, to clearly announce that EAP is NOT FSD and absolutely requires hands on the wheel at all times.

Thoughts?

 

[HankLloydRight]

Apparently they don't put as much care into their web site as the many hours of painstaking hand labor to make each one of their death donuts.

Death Donuts. I love it.

 

[MelaniainLA]

Neither could I. I don't know if they requested that the thread be deleted (what does that tell you), or the TMC site admins didn't want the liability of advertising such a product (more likely).

regardless, it's a sign that there are serious concerns here, and there's pressure to quench any notion that AP nags can safely be defeated.

 

[jsmay311]

Watch - they will implement eye tracking next on AP2.5. Then these clowns will start selling a mask with fake eyes on it so you can ignore that system.

Except, unlike today's systems, ensuring that the driver has his/her eyes on the road would actually be an effective solution to making sure the driver is paying attention.

• Eyes on road = Driver paying attention
• Hands on wheel ≠ Driver paying attention

And furthermore...​

• Hands not detected on wheel ≠ Hands not on wheel

As long these disconnects exists, you'll get people frustrated by false nags trying to "fool" the system, even if they fully intend to pay attention while driving, keep their hands on the wheel, and not do anything unsafe. But once a defeat mechanism is put in place, good intentions can quickly go out the window and end up leading to unsafe situations or abuse.

 

[diplomat33]

1. Support us in banning AP-defeating devices like AutopIlot Buddy by announcing in public that it is illegal and unsafe to use AP-defeating devices

Why would Tesla need convincing on this? I would think that Tesla would be happy to support banning products like Auto Buddy. After all, it is not in Tesla's interest to have drivers abusing AP.

 

[mongo]

Eyes on road = Driver paying attention

Nope, I was hit by a driver looking at the car next to me.

 

[SSonnentag]

Ankle/Wrist weights are cheaper and are available in numerous colors.

https://www.amazon.com/SHOUNg-Reflective-Adjustable-Exercise-Gymnastics/dp/B06Y1W8YJK/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1529438893&sr=8-11-spons&keywords=weighted+wrist+weights&th=1

 

[MelaniainLA]

Why would Tesla need convincing on this? I would think that Tesla would be happy to support banning products like Auto Buddy. After all, it is not in Tesla's interest to have drivers abusing AP.

Tesla’s public buy-in would go a long way to promote safe AP driving.