TMC is an independent, primarily volunteer organization that relies on ad revenue to cover its operating costs. Please consider whitelisting TMC on your ad blocker and becoming a Supporting Member. For more info: Support TMC
  1. TMC is currently READ ONLY.
    Click here for more info.

AutoPilot - note to drivers and Consumer Reports

Discussion in 'Model X' started by xkwizit, Jul 16, 2016.

  1. sillydriver

    sillydriver Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2014
    Messages:
    799
    Location:
    Middleburg, va
    This is a very good point. There is a psychological aspect in addition to AP's smoothness in maneuvering. Not that I would ever be subject to road rage, but when some idiot cuts off my car while AP is on it feels like they are not disrespecting me: they are merely disrespecting AP. Then all is calm.
     
    • Funny x 2
    • Informative x 1
  2. msnow

    msnow Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2015
    Messages:
    4,951
    Location:
    SoCal
    Well not exactly. If I'm in a cab I don't have to pay attention to the traffic or worry about the car bouncing trying to find center, drifting towards trucks in the right lane, drifting left to center dividers, losing track due to faded lane markings or sudden breaking due to false positives (all these things happen to those of us who really do use it in everyday life). I "like" AP because I feel like I'm contributing to its ultimate success but "LOVE" isn't the word I'd use. Also, given that I'm aware of where it can fail I'm always alert and not relaxed and I've been using it since it came out last October.
     
    • Like x 1
  3. wycolo

    wycolo Active Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2012
    Messages:
    3,068
    Location:
    WA & WY
    the car bouncing trying to find center, drifting towards trucks in the right lane, drifting left to center dividers, losing track due to faded lane markings or sudden breaking due to false positives [manow]

    Just like one-hand steering an old beater, constantly going from 11 to 1 o'clock back and forth to avoid looking like a drunk driver. Time for new tie rod ends and ball joints AND time to turn off AP. But how can AP exit gracefully and safely? It has to know you've woken up and become oriented in all spheres (I can't wait to do a test ride!).

    Speaking of one-hand steering, isn't that the best way to rest upper appendages - one at a time?
    --
     
  4. msnow

    msnow Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2015
    Messages:
    4,951
    Location:
    SoCal
    I didn't mean to imply that it constantly does this. There are long periods of stability but you have to be alert and aware of AP's current capabilities. It's beta after all.
     
  5. SR22pilot

    SR22pilot Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Messages:
    720
    Location:
    Georgia
    Interesting that one person's beta (Tesla's) is better than another person's (MB, Hyundai, Infiniti) finished product.
     
    • Like x 5
    • Funny x 1
  6. msnow

    msnow Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2015
    Messages:
    4,951
    Location:
    SoCal
    I have never driven a MB with AP so I have nothing to compare it to.
     
  7. hockeythug

    hockeythug Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2013
    Messages:
    1,979
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Might need to Musk tweet proof the servers. :)
     
    • Like x 1
    • Funny x 1
  8. S'toon

    S'toon Knows where his towel is

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2015
    Messages:
    3,698
    Location:
    AB
    Yeah, I went to mention that Musk tweeted out this thread, and the board crashed.
     
    • Like x 2
    • Funny x 1
  9. omarsultan

    omarsultan Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2013
    Messages:
    2,164
    Location:
    Northern California
    • Like x 5
  10. pete8314

    pete8314 Vendor

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2012
    Messages:
    2,351
    Location:
    DFW, ex UK
    I've been a Model S owner since early 2013, but have only had the change to use Autopilot since getting my new S a month ago. It's everything that the OP says it is. If you choose to place more trust in the system, then that's the risk you have decided to take. It's the same risk you take each time you read or reply to a text message on your phone. Who's driving then? Your knees, most likely, with the occasional glance at the road. But, you're basically on your own, less safe, version of autopilot. I have no doubt that AP, when used correctly, makes me a safer driver.

    It's also worth mentioned that the media loves a (non) crisis. Cast you mind back a couple of years when a few Tesla's caught fire (during which time 100's of ICE cars also caught fire). The stock took a hit, the media dragged the Tesla brand through the mud, and ultimately Tesla became stronger, because the facts surfaced, the FUD was silenced (mostly), and just for good measure, we all got a concrete-crushing shield mounted to the bottom of our cars.

    Tesla are gathering vast amounts of data every day to evolve the system and make it safer in all scenarios. The unfortunate side of that is that the edge-cases will sometimes involve tragedy. That doesn't mean we are all guinea pigs, but it does show that it's impossible to create every possible scenario in a lab. It's impossible to create it with 130 million miles. Even after a billion, something will be unaccounted for, but it'll be an ever-reducing amount.

    Removing Autopilot is simply delaying the inevitable development of a technology that will make the roads safer (statistically, it already is). Certainly, owners should Read The Manual (RTFM), but beyond that, it's on us to make sure we're not using the technology when it's inappropriate to do so.
     
    • Like x 4
  11. andrewket

    andrewket Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2012
    Messages:
    5,702
    As another Tesla owner with ~25k miles on his belt using AP, I agree +++1. Nailed it.
     
    • Like x 3
  12. Ludus

    Ludus Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2013
    Messages:
    367
    Location:
    Michigan
    Congrats. :) I can see you put some work into writing that post but you prolly didn't expect it to be read by a few million people.
     
    • Funny x 1
  13. Noneduck

    Noneduck Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    85
    Location:
    Albuquerque NM
    This is true. I even had a coal rolling diesel truck drive up and blow smoke at me. Infuriating, but I was so be-calmed by AP that I was not even tempted to react. AP mindfulness.
     
    • Like x 2
  14. Electroman

    Electroman Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2012
    Messages:
    6,104
    Location:
    TX
    As funny as this observation is, it is ironic that it is true.


    Of course you didn't.
     
  15. RMartens

    RMartens Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2016
    Messages:
    20
    Location:
    Texas
    Exactly what I am hoping for with my M3.(Make me go with the flow and calm down) :)
     
    • Like x 1
  16. Bruin1996

    Bruin1996 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2016
    Messages:
    210
    Location:
    Southern California
    Excellent post defending the RESPONSIBLE use of Autopilot which is such a huge benefit to all of us Tesla owners. I am a physician and actually I have had non-Tesla owning colleagues who have actually asked me if I am now afraid of using Autopilot as it is so dangerous. The ignorance about Autopilot even among highly educated, otherwise intelligent people is unbelievable. Meanwhile, every one of my Autopilot-enabled Tesla-owning colleagues loves their Autopilot functionality and would never give it up. And of course congratulations on the HT of your post by Elon Musk himself.

    The only comment I want to add is that I think Autopilot is a wonderful thing for the stop-and-go "busy" traffic that I seem to always endure on the freeways here in Southern California. I completely agree with all of the other factors you listed where you need to have extra caution even with Autopilot. It is just so much less stressful to have my Tesla handling the steering and acceleration/braking that is so mind-numbingly painful during stop and go traffic. With my previous car, I would feel so fatigued after a long day at work that sometimes I would have to pull over to rest. No longer a problem with the Autopilot on my Tesla!
     
    • Like x 5
    • Love x 1
  17. theslimshadyist

    theslimshadyist Trampa!

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2016
    Messages:
    1,091
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    One of the best articles to date on this topic. :)
     
    • Like x 1
  18. Skotty

    Skotty 2014 S P85 | 2020 3 P19"

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2013
    Messages:
    2,422
    Location:
    Kansas City, MO
    I disagree with a lot of what some of you are saying. It's not necessarily one way or the other. Autopilot is not necessarily a better driver, and neither are you. AP is not necessarily less stressful, in part because it is not perfect. AP and a cab are both not necessarily less stressful because you are putting your safety in something or someone elses hands, and if you are like me, that's stressful. I don't trust anyone or anything more than me to get me safely to my destination. Nothing stresses me out faster than being a passenger in a vehicle with a driver I don't trust or who in my opinion is driving less safely than I would.

    Does any of this suggest that AP should be put on hold? No. Statistically, AP is doing okay. Use it if you want. Don't use it if you don't. And don't worry about others using it. There's really no reason to make a stink about it right now one way or the other. Drive on, assisted or not. We'll see what the statistics say next year and reassess.
     
    • Like x 1
  19. NerdDoc

    NerdDoc Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2015
    Messages:
    91
    Location:
    New Jersey
    I'm probably preaching to the (responsible) choir, but every person with a driver error induced accident that falsely blames autopilot hurts the whole Tesla community and the advancement of autonomous transport. The only silver lining is that most of these people get outed when the data is uploaded to Tesla.
     
    • Like x 1

Share This Page

  • About Us

    Formed in 2006, Tesla Motors Club (TMC) was the first independent online Tesla community. Today it remains the largest and most dynamic community of Tesla enthusiasts. Learn more.
  • Do you value your experience at TMC? Consider becoming a Supporting Member of Tesla Motors Club. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll get nearly no ads in the Community and Groups sections. Additional perks are available depending on the level of contribution. Please visit the Account Upgrades page for more details.


    SUPPORT TMC