Musk Says ‘Augmented Mode’ Coming to 2020 Roadster

That the next-generation Tesla Roadster will have an “Augmented Mode” designed to “massively enhance human driving ability,” according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1004937330409418753

“Like a flying metal suit,” he tweeted in a reference to comic book superhero Iron Man’s tech-powered suit of armor. He did not offer any technical details or descriptions of how “Augmented Mode” would operate.

If “Augmented Mode” proves to “massively enhance human driving ability,” let’s hope other cars can have the feature too.

Tesla watchers believe Musk was referring to an augmented reality technology, which places computer-generated images into a user’s view of the real world. You can imagine a range of applications for the car, from maps, to safety warnings, to highlighting roadside services or attractions.

Musk said the feature is aimed at improving driving, which makes sense considering the ferocious nature of the upcoming Roadster. The base version clocks a 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds and the quarter-mile in 8.9 seconds at 250 mph. Again, that’s the base version. It may take a superhero to pilot the performance model.

The next generation Roadster is scheduled for release in 2020.

 

[wipster]

I knew he had been visiting Tony Stark!!!

 

[bolosky]

I knew he had been visiting Tony Stark!!!

Isn't Tony Stark based on him?

 

[wipster]

Isn't Tony Stark based on him?

Tony Stark has been around a lot longer than Elon...

However Elon did do a cameo in Iron Man 2, telling Tony he wanted to talk with him about a new idea... maybe this is Iron Car! Figuratively speaking that is.

 

[arnis]

Well, it just a fancy name for enhanced heads up display.

 

[Peteski]

Well, it just a fancy name for enhanced heads up display.

That depends if you believe he was talking about "augmented reality" or augmented in the dictionary sense of "being made greater". You could take it to mean that the car will have augmented driving dynamics i.e. a fancy name for stability control, torque vectoring etc. making an ordinary buffoon look like a driving god when power sliding around a track. Much like most modern hypercars already do. Switch off all the electronic nannies and most folk can't cope with the sort of power even a modest modern sportscar puts out.

 

[MHarrigan]

Tony Stark was invented by Marvel Comics around 1963. However the film version of Iron Man was filmed in 2006/7, about the time that Elon and Tesla were starting to become well known. It has been said that the Tony Stark character, as played by Robert Downey, Jr, is loosely based on Elon. Perhaps that's somewhat of an urban legend but then again, maybe not. Elon has many movie celebrity connections and the possibility is made more plausible since he did a cameo appearance in Iron Man II. A prototype of the Tesla Roadster (the first one) also did a cameo appearance in Tony Stark's garage.

 

[wipster]

Tony Stark was invented by Marvel Comics around 1963. However the film version of Iron Man was filmed in 2006/7, about the time that Elon and Tesla were starting to become well known. It has been said that the Tony Stark character, as played by Robert Downey, Jr, is loosely based on Elon. Perhaps that's somewhat of an urban legend but then again, maybe not. Elon has many movie celebrity connections and the possibility is made more plausible since he did a cameo appearance in Iron Man II. A prototype of the Tesla Roadster (the first one) also did a cameo appearance in Tony Stark's garage.

Not in dispute; however Tony Stark and his drinking, womanizing, and inventive ways has been around since 1963 (I didn't start buying the comics until later damn it). So let's just enjoy Robert Downey Jr.'s excellent portrayal of this iconic superhero and feel fortunate that we have a great man in our lives whose mannerisms, demeanor, and inventiveness remind us of this fictional character!

 

[MHarrigan]

Sure! And maybe it's the other way around - Elon is patterning himself after Tony Stark (reality imitates art ;-)

 

[wipster]

Sure! And maybe it's the other way around - Elon is patterning himself after Tony Stark (reality imitates art ;-)

LOL!! However, I was watching a Big Bang Theory rerun the other night and it was the one where Elon had a cameo washing dishes with Howard at a soup kitchen. While I loved it (and would definitely share a piece of pumpkin pie with him), an actor he ain't!

 

[whitex]

Why do you need Augmented Mode if FSD will be ready by then? Roadster with FSD would make it around any track faster than any human can, having reaction times 1000 times faster, having much, much more sensory information (cameras, radars, gps maps, etc) to base those reactions on. Computers don't need "augmented reality".

Or, maybe Augmented Mode is where the car pretends it's driving somewhere, so you can pretend you are driving on a famous race track, like a video game but using your own Roadster controls?

 

[SOULPEDL]

Agree, could be "just a HUD."

But how could your body movement control the car? Your head wouldn't be able to leave the seat at times. Guess your hands/feet could be in a glove/pocket as you lay right down for a real low profile. Maybe a special helmet would provide 3D vision that deletes the car from the scene using all the cameras (already there) and turning your head 90 degrees would be like a 180?

In that case, why have a windshield at all? Just have a fan blowing in your face for the effect and sense the 4 wheels with your limbs. That's when SoulPedal will finally get used! Yay...

He gets ya thinkin', eh? Why not...

 

[GeorgeSymonds]

There’s the sound generator required by a number countries when low speed driving to warn pedestrians

Or there’s the augmented reality sat nav like that the Mercedes a class comes with.

I very much doubt it’s going to be anything really new.

 

[whitex]

Agree, could be "just a HUD."

But how could your body movement control the car? Your head wouldn't be able to leave the seat at times. Guess your hands/feet could be in a glove/pocket as you lay right down for a real low profile. Maybe a special helmet would provide 3D vision that deletes the car from the scene using all the cameras (already there) and turning your head 90 degrees would be like a 180?

In that case, why have a windshield at all? Just have a fan blowing in your face for the effect and sense the 4 wheels with your limbs. That's when SoulPedal will finally get used! Yay...

He gets ya thinkin', eh? Why not...

Yea, that's the dream he may sell you. What will be delivered is a harness you can strap yourself to the roof with, with a helmet and a com system you can relay your wishes to the human driver below, who has to keep both hands on the wheel and be prepared to take over at any time. Oh it will come with a promise of someday after software validation and government approval you'll be able to remove the human driver from the equation.

 

[Rob R]

LOL!! However, I was watching a Big Bang Theory rerun the other night and it was the one where Elon had a cameo washing dishes with Howard at a soup kitchen. While I loved it (and would definitely share a piece of pumpkin pie with him), an actor he ain't!

 

[Rob R]

So, serial entrepreneur, multi billionaire, saver of planets, coloniser of Mars, can't act. Some people are just hopeless!

 

[CarlK]

Sounds to me like advanced driver assist, traction and stability control, AEB.....to make driving such animal easier.

 

[Plug Life]

...and sharks with lasers!

 

[whitex]

So, serial entrepreneur, multi billionaire, saver of planets, coloniser of Mars, can't act. Some people are just hopeless!

Colonizer of Mars? Saver of planets? Let's see, colonized Mars with 0 people, 0 of anything so far - he got one car in space but nowhere near Mars. By that definition Mars has been colonized long time ago. Saved 0 planets so far. Oh, you mean he dreams of these things and you assume he did them already?

 

[Peteski]

Colonizer of Mars? Saver of planets? Let's see, colonized Mars with 0 people, 0 of anything so far - he got one car in space but nowhere near Mars. By that definition Mars has been colonized long time ago. Saved 0 planets so far. Oh, you mean he dreams of these things and you assume he did them already?

At least he has a vision and is actively following it. What about you?