Tesla released on October 31 its latest patch for its Full-Self Driving Suite, software update 2020.40.8.12. This is the automaker’s first FSD update after rolling out a limited beta of the package on October 27.
The update includes a new user interface (UI), improved aesthetics and clearer visualizations.
Revamped UI
From an aesthetic standpoint, there is a significantly larger space allotted for visualizations. Vehicles are now reflected in a very clear and detailed manner.
The remaining charging time is now featured on the upper left corner of the screen. The “P-R-N-D Autopilot” shift pattern has also been moved to the top left corner once drivers activate the Autopilot feature.
The FSD visualization panel takes up the entire instrument cluster on both Model S and Model X cars once users download the update.
FSD Requiring Less Interventions?
According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the latest update will reduce the need for human intervention by about a third.
While Musk did not further elaborate on the nature of the improvements, he described them as “silly bugs”.
FSD Price Officially Raised
Musk initially announced the price increase last week after when the beta was launched.
The purchasing price of the FSD package is now $10,000.
What is the Next Step?
There is no denying that the FSD suite is steadily improving, and its functionalities are constantly growing. Tesla has adopted a gradual, step-by-step approach and rolled out several FSD features prior to releasing the beta service.
For instance, the company rolled out its Software Update 2020.40.3 in early October. The update enabled Tesla cars to correctly identify travel speed limits displayed on street signs and take the appropriate measures.
Additionally, lane changing on highways and automatic car parking with no driver input are now a reality. Tesla is hoping to make the FSD beta widely accessible by the end of 2020.
The automaker, however. is still advising for caution and prudence.
Full-Self Driving still requires constant monitoring via human assistance. Musk also pointed out that the FSD package would never be perfect, but hoped the likelihood of a system error would dip “far lower” than human errors.
A widely-available FSD suite will become a reality once the system is reliable enough so that most drivers will feel comfortable using it. Based on current results, the system is being refined on a constant basis, and showing concrete signs of improvements.
Software Update Full Description
Here are the release notes of Update 2020.40.8.12, per Teslascope.com:
Full Self-Driving (Beta)
Full Self-Driving is in early limited access Beta and must be used with additional caution. It may do the wrong thing at the worst time, so you must always keep your hands on the wheel and pay attention to the road. Do not become complacent.
When Full Self-Driving is enabled your vehicle will make lane changes off highway, select forks to follow your navigation route, navigate around other vehicles and objects, and make left and right turns. Use Full-Self Driving is limited Beta only if you will pay constant attention to the road, and be prepared to act immediately, especially around blind corners, crossing intersections, and in narrow driving situations.
Driving Visualization Improvements
The driving visualization has been improved to better support Full Self-Driving capabilities by increasing the display size to show additional surrounding information. The next turn will now appear above the visualization if the navigation turn list is covered by another app.
With the larger visualization, select items have slightly moved but will continue to look and behave the same. Some notable differences include the following:
- Quick access to the backup camera and wipers has moved to the bottom bar
- Autopilot set speed is now displayed directly below the speedometer and can continue to be adjusted using the right steering wheel scroll wheel. The speed will turn blue when Autopilot is engaged.
Vehicle Information
The Tesla “T” has been removed from the top status bar – the same information can be found by tapping Controls > Software.
When do you think the FSD package will be available on a wide scale? Let us know in the comment below:
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