Rober's tests highlighted limitations in Tesla's Autopilot, especially in challenging weather conditions, though he noted that such scenarios are unlikely in real life. The goal of self-driving systems is to enhance road safety by detecting incidents faster than human drivers. Some Tesla fans criticized Rober for not using the more advanced Full-Self-Driving beta software. Musk claims that Tesla on Autopilot is significantly less likely to crash than average cars, a statement some experts find misleading.
Key takeaways:
- Mark Rober tested Tesla's Autopilot against a LiDAR-equipped car to evaluate obstacle detection, finding that Tesla struggled in extreme conditions like fog and rain.
- Elon Musk has criticized LiDAR, advocating for camera-based technology for self-driving cars, arguing that it mimics human vision.
- The Tesla Model Y on Autopilot detected obstacles in some scenarios but failed in others, such as when visibility was obstructed by fog or rain.
- Critics of the test noted that Rober used Autopilot instead of Tesla's more advanced Full-Self-Driving beta software, which might have performed better.