Engineers trick Tesla Model Y to drive on Autopilot sans driver on the seat
As Tesla faces
several fatal crashes in the recent past that has put its Autopilot mode in
scrutiny, engineers at Consumer Reports engineers have easily tricked a Tesla Model Y to
drive on the electric carmakers driver assistance feature, without actually
anyone in the drivers seat.
During the drive, Tesla Model Y
automatically steered along painted lane lines, but the system did not send out
a warning that the driver's seat was empty.
The engineers tricked Tesla vehicle by placing a small, weighted
chain on the steering wheel, to simulate the weight of a driver's hand, and
slid over into the front passenger seat without opening any of the vehicle's
doors, because that would disengage Autopilot, the report said on Thursday.
Using the same steering wheel dial, the engineers reached over and
was able to accelerate the vehicle from a full stop.
"In our evaluation, the system not only failed to make sure
the driver was paying attention, but it also couldn't tell if there was a
driver there at all," says Jake Fisher, CR's senior director of auto
testing, who conducted the experiment.
"Tesla is falling behind other automakers like GM and Ford
that, on models with advanced driver assist systems, use technology to make
sure the driver is looking at the road."
Last week, two people were killed in a fiery Tesla crash in Texas
with no one in the driver's seat. The fatal crash is under investigation.
Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman told Houston
television station KPRC 2 that the investigation showed "no one was
driving" the fully electric 2019 Tesla when the accident happened.
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