Tesla is soon expected to roll out its highly-anticipated Autopilot software. The decision has come amidst the fatality that took place on May 7, 2016, involving a Tesla Model S running on Autopilot.
The autopilot software is expected to be downloaded to more than 80,000 Tesla vehicles in the coming weeks, according to Electrek. The publication first reported the details of the new software release and the anticipated deployment.
Autopilot 8.0 is expected to stir up the industry and undoubtedly draw the attention of the public. The software upgrade will enhance and strengthen the existing features, while the users will also get to experience the addition of some new features. The new software is considered to be a major upgrade to the existing software.
Despite all the enhancements and the addition of new features, Autopilot 8.0 will still be a hands-on-the-wheel assisted driving program, according to Digital Trends. That is, the driver of the Tesla vehicle will be able to take control of the machine within a split of a second.
Meanwhile, the results of the investigation around the fatality involving Tesla vehicle are still pending. In addition to the Florida law enforcement investigation, the results of the preliminary investigation conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are also pending.
Several conflicting and contradictory stories have emerged since the time of the accident. While some stories suggest that Joshua Brown was actually watching a Harry Potter film on a portable DVD player, others question whether the car was designed to avoid a collision and preventing a vehicle from coming in from the side.
Tesla autopilot supplier Mobileye later said that the system that the 2015 Model S is equipped with only looks forward. However, Tesla's Elon Musk has since said that Mobileye is only a part of the Autopilot system and the sensor. He further stated that the side sensors would have detected the truck, but because of the height and the plain white surface, the system may have confused it with a highway sign.
Regardless of all the explanation, the autopilot system was incapable of saving the crash and the life of the driver. In such a scenario, Autopilot 8.0 is expected to save the system from such flaws.
Autopilot 8.0 is expected to have a new user interface., route planning, media handling, new navigation, automatic off-ramp driving. The software will have a whole new Autopilot feature set based on the driving data fetched from millions of Tesla cars.
The following video shows Tesla's autopilot test at 70mph: