Ask HN: What Happened to Tesla's Self Driving Function Planned for Summer 2015? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What Happened to Tesla's Self Driving Function Planned for Summer 2015?

17 pointsekianjo10 comments

I seem to remember that E. Musk announced back in March that Tesla would be releasing a software update making it possible to have a self driving car in selected locations. Was it ever released? Is it delayed ? Any news on that?

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This may shed some light: http://www.wired.com/2015/07/crummy-highways-delaying-self-d...

Essentially, the road markings are too shoddy, and it's hard to work around - but there'll be a beta of some description before too long.

That poor road markings can cause the self-driving system to fail does not instill confidence at all.

Humans use road markings to help drive/navigate, why shouldn't a car?

The car using them is fine. Their absence alone causing failure is worrisome.

What do you think the car should do when it can't see any lane markings?

Would also be interested in knowing what you think it does right now, in the failure scenario we're discussing.

The point is that lots of roads don't have visible lane markings. If the self-driving mode doesn't work correctly with out them then it won't work on many US roads.

You probably want to adjust your expectations -- hard things are hard. The article talks about concrete freeways with faded white lane markings -- those are common in California, and as a human, I have a hard time seeing the lane markings.

It's in beta-test as of a week ago:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/self...

This man is solving the world's energy crisis, going to space, and managing a crazy ex wife.

You want him to make your car self driving too?

Geesh!

While it's true that he's doing amazing stuff, it's also true that when other people oversell and underdeliver vaporware, they're not given as much slack. Where do you draw the line as to when to give a break and when not?

It's become fairly clear that what he's doing is hard, and normal people would have failed miserably. I actually don't know what my point is anymore.

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