Tesla has officially launched its ‘Full Self Driving (supervised)’ system in right-hand drive markets, including Australia. Recently, a test drive was conducted around Brisbane in a Model Y, covering over 50km without the need to touch any controls.
Starting September, Tesla will offer the FSD (supervised) feature to Australian customers with Hardware 4 (HW4) compatible vehicles. This feature can be accessed through a 30-day free trial for new customers or as a paid monthly subscription. Customers can also opt to purchase it upfront for $10,100.
During the test drive, the Tesla vehicle navigated through suburban streets, freeways, and the CBD in FSD (supervised) mode. While the system is classified as Level 2 autonomy, requiring the driver to be in control at all times, it eliminates the need for constant steering intervention commonly seen in other ADAS systems.
The vehicle uses an in-cabin camera to monitor the driver’s attention level. If the driver becomes distracted, the system prompts them to refocus, disabling FSD (supervised) until the driver resumes control.
Despite the impressive performance, there were some instances where the system showed limitations. For example, it struggled to merge into the correct lane in the CBD and failed to yield to oncoming traffic in certain situations. These incidents highlight the need for further refinement and improvement in the technology.
Compared to fully autonomous systems like Waymo, which utilize a combination of LiDAR, radar, and cameras, Tesla’s approach solely relies on cameras for ‘full self driving’. While this may pose challenges, Tesla believes that training the system with ‘good drivers’ can enhance decision-making capabilities.
Overall, the Tesla FSD (supervised) system shows promise as a stepping stone towards autonomous driving. However, there is room for improvement in terms of handling complex scenarios and adapting to diverse driving styles. With advancements in software and potentially additional sensors, the system could evolve to offer a more seamless and reliable autonomous driving experience in the future.
