All About Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving
Tesla has made headlines with its innovative technology that is moving the industry towards greener alternatives and artificial intelligence. With Elon Musk leading the future of the company, it’s no wonder the brand will always be a step ahead of its time. Tesla autopilot and full self-driving (FSD) are defining the path for future cars.
Less driver input in the light of sophisticated safety features that also make driving less stressful. Let’s take a look at Tesla autopilot and whether it is worth investing in Tesla Full Self-Driving Package.
Difference between Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving
Before going into details, let’s see what features are offered by each package.
Autopilot
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
- Autosteer
Full Self Driving (FSD)
- Autopilot Navigation
- Auto Lane Change
- Auto Park
- Smart Summon
- Traffic Signal Stop Control
The current models of Tesla are equipped with 8 external cameras, 12 sensors and radar. This adds multiple layers of safety during autopilot.
Although these features give promising results, Tesla still requires drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel all the time. In case of failure to follow instructions, you will be warned before the car slows down to a stop and locks you out of autopilot for the rest of the trip.
Relationship between Autopilot And Full Self Driving
Since it is established that FSD is basically an innovation to autopilots, let’s discuss the key attributes that make it smarter:
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
Cruise control regulates your car speed so you don’t have to press the accelerator all the time. With traffic awareness, Tesla will manage to maintain safe distance and adjust speed relative to the car in front of it.
This does not mean you can go on sleep mode while driving, as the system still requires your attention to hold the steering wheel or control brakes in unforeseen situations.
Autosteer
Autosteer is an extension to cruise control, which assists your car to stay in lane. Keep in mind that the autosteer will disengage if you change lanes.
Autopilot Navigation
This is where you can get a glimpse of the advancement in self-driving technology. Although the system is still beta, meaning there is plenty of room to upgrade. Sensors will work to actually suggest lane changes, turn on indicators automatically and guide along correct road interchanges.
Auto Lane Change
Exclusive to full self-driving, the feature allows Tesla to change lanes automatically while on auto-steer. The frequency of lane change can be adjusted by the driver from its computer panel. So if there is a slow car in front of you with no approaching car from the side, Tesla will take autonomous decisions to change the lane.
Auto Park
The Auto Park will probably end the nightmare for people, who still find parallel parking nerve-wracking. The sensor system picks up the parking space allowing the driver to select and will start on selection once you put the vehicle in reverse. It is advised to keep an eye on the rear camera and hands-on steering wheel in case sensor misses any obstacle.
Smart Summon
Smart summon is something out of the movies where a press of a button will bring your car to you. However, Tesla still needs time to perfect it as the system functions better in driveways or private parking lots where you are within 200 feets of the car. You can select the command through the Tesla App. Alternatively, you can also provide the car with a target location through the map.
Traffic Signal Stop Control
The feature was introduced in 2019 that allows Tesla to detect traffic signals and slow the car accordingly. The vehicle will slow down on any traffic light even when the signal is green. Since the feature is still in the testing phase, it may not even work at some signals. Hence, driver supervision is necessary when crossing such intersections.
FAQs
Is a full self-driving package worth it?
Full self-driving is an upgrade to the autopilot. In fact, it is advised to purchase the FSD packages as the price will only increase in the future. If you already own the package, you gain the advantage of free system updates.
Is Tesla available in the UAE?
Tesla is available in three model variants including Model 3, S and X. You can also explore your options with used Tesla cars for sale in the UAE for affordable deals.
Autopilot is usually considered a standard in Tesla cars. It is just an advanced version of cruise control. However, most of the innovative features are covered in its Full Self-Driving Package. The difference can also be seen in its prices as FSD is more expensive, considering the system is also designed to implement future changes.
As the UAE is already gearing up for initiatives to promote autonomous cars, it is not far when people can experience driverless transportation. Stay tuned to the UAE’s leading auto blogs for more information on car parts, market trends and automotive technology.