Tesla hasn’t exactly spoiled its customers with new functions or extensions lately – the autopilot system is making little progress in Europe and was recently even restricted again by regulation.
But while the update that was forced for this is not even complete, another one has already begun in North America that is going in a more positive direction: It contains three innovations for which Tesla is using its increasing camera intelligence more intensively in some cases.
Street data for Model S and Model X
Earlier this month, tracker services registered the installation of software version 2022.20 on the first Tesla electric cars in the US and Canada. A few days later there wasn’t much more of it. The most active thing on Tuesday was the distribution of version 2022.16.2, which contains the dreaded downgrade of a function in the EAP or FSD autopilot extras.
According to the software notes, when navigating under autopilot control in Europe, an initiation or confirmation from the person behind the wheel is now also required when changing motorways.
In this case, probably to the delight of owners with a paid EAP or FSD option, 2022.16.2 has apparently only made it to European Teslas in isolated cases. For example, our own Model X with EAP is currently at 2022.12.3.16, which does not include Autopilot clipping. Tesla could therefore omit the 16 version from us. But that would be a shame in 2022.20 because this software is designed to make driving safer and more comfortable.
In this case, this applies in particular to the Model S and Model X, because only the two larger Teslas have so far had adaptive air suspension. That’s how they previously reacted to bad roads with a higher position, but with the new software, they should do it proactively: 2022.20 downloads data on rough sections collected from other Tesla drivers who have passed them before and adjusts the suspension in good time on it.
Traffic light gong and belt-tightening for all Teslas
Two other new functions in the latest Tesla software are also intended for Model 3 and Model Y. On the other hand, unlike those for Model S and Model X, they are not based on (potentially bad) experiences from predecessors, but on their own foresight with the help of built-in cameras and artificial intelligence.
The first is called “Green Light Light Chime” in English and consists of playing a chime when you stand in front of a traffic light and it turns green. It’s a minor detail, but it’s handy for people who want to gaze around or browse Tesla menus while waiting. This already existed for EAP and FSD customers, with the update to 2022.20 the green gong seems to be coming with the basic autopilot as well.
Finally, the second new feature for everyone has the clearest security aspect. According to the version notes, Tesla has further improved the accident protection provided by its electric cars: If the autopilot system detects an approaching frontal impact, the seat belts are automatically tightened.
According to Tesla, its own vision system helps, i.e. the evaluation of camera images with the help of artificially intelligent software, which, according to CEO Elon Musk, can become so good that radar is no longer needed to drive more safely than people. The extended pre-belt tightening has shown the best performance in frontal crashes, it is said in the notes. So this update would certainly be very welcome again in Europe.
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