Tesla Full Self Driving Supervised V12.6.3: That Don’t Impress Me Much!

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From the immortal humorous lyrics of Shania Twain, my analysis of FSD Supervised V12.6.3 (2024.45.32.15): That Don’t Impress Me A lot! I’ve been driving with and obsessively utilizing Tesla’s synthetic intelligence software program in my Mannequin 3 now for over 5 years and almost 150,000 miles, each on Interstate highways and metropolis streets. Traditionally, I’ve been blown away by what Tesla’s AI can do, however listed below are some key issues with the most recent model.

Notice: All shouldn’t be misplaced! There have been a number of software program updates in the previous few weeks. The most recent one, V12.6.4, got here right now. It appears to have fastened lots of the issues reported beneath.

• For the primary time, I’ve needed to flip off the most recent model of Tesla’s “Full Self Driving” Supervised, as a result of I can’t make it behave.
• Despite my greatest efforts to maintain my eyes glued to the street and my hand continually placing torque on the steering wheel, after solely a minute or two, I get the blue flashing warning of imminent loss of life on the high of the display. When I attempt to improve the torque on the steering wheel, the blue flashing continues till I really disengage the software program. (Notice: holding the steering wheel shouldn’t even be a difficulty as a result of the digicam above the rearview mirror is watching my face and is healthier at observing driver attentiveness than tugging on the wheel.)
• The one possibility that is smart is to push the suitable stick as much as disengage the software program manually and pull it down once more to begin it once more! (with out the blue flashing for one more minute or two)
• The size of time FSD Supervised is working is so brief that it’s not definitely worth the hassle.
• My solely answer is to show off FSD and solely use visitors conscious cruise management.
• I can nonetheless use FSD typically on metropolis streets, however on highways, notably highways with many curves (like canyon roads), FSD is now unusable.

Elon Musk has been promising yearly for the final 5 years or in order that he may have degree 5 driving automation working inside 12 months in each Tesla automobile made within the final 5 years. He even appears to be betting that he may have robotaxis working within the subsequent 12 months or two. Whereas I’ve seen main enhancements in some areas, we appear to be no nearer to full automation than we had been 3 years in the past.

Our editor in chief (Zach Shahan) speculates that we could also be in a type of seesaw loop now — Tesla makes an enchancment in a single space which makes it worse in one other. Instance: For the primary time, within the final 12 months, FSD normally slows you down for pace bumps and even typically for extreme dips within the street (Utah above-surface sewers). The Utah floor sewer dips are extreme sufficient that they are going to actually take the underside off your automobile should you hit them on the pace restrict. However, FSD has at all times had an issue with occasional “phantom braking” — in different phrases, slowing or braking for no obvious motive. Phantom braking appears to be extra frequent now at gradual speeds. Maybe the automobile thinks there’s a pace bump the place none exists.

Different points:

• Much less correct steering: My earlier automobile was a 2018 Nissan Leaf. The automated steering help labored fantastic on reasonably curvy roads. My Tesla Mannequin 3’s steering help was initially way more sturdy and correct. It labored fantastic on a lot sharper turns, and the most recent variations of FSD deal with the sharpest turns, together with these on roundabouts. It could maintain my automobile in the course of the lane higher than nearly any human driver. Till now! Generally my automobile will drift to the suitable so badly that it has even put my proper wheels on the gravel a number of instances. Not as incessantly, it is going to put wheels on the double yellow strains in the course of the street. Is there one thing unsuitable with my 5-year-old automobile, or is the steering help operate not as correct because it was beforehand? (Editor’s observe: I simply drove for a number of hours to a state/regional robotics event the place my daughter is competing. I used FSD for in all probability lower than one minute. I turned it on whereas on a high-speed however fairly slender rural street, and the automobile bought so near the middle lane that I wasn’t comfy in any respect leaving it on. —Zach)
• Can’t set speeds precisely anymore: Utilizing earlier variations of FSD Supervised, you would set a precise pace — say, 5, 10, or 15 mph over the pace restrict — and your automobile would rapidly pace as much as that pace and maintain it. It could additionally repeatedly present you the pace it had set. Now, FSD Supervised apparently thinks it’s smarter than you and units a pace typically only some miles over the pace restrict. Does it assume the pace you set is unsafe? I don’t know the reply. Additionally, after a number of seconds, the numerical show of the pace you set disappears, typically solely changed by the phrase. Customary. You need to change the pace you set to ensure that the pace show to reappear. Notice: Tesla retains messing with the graphics. The pace settings now seem in small blue letters within the higher left nook of the display.
• It’s now harder to remain within the HOV lane: On this a part of northern Utah, I-15 has 12 lanes. The internal lanes are Excessive Occupancy Car (HOV) lanes. It signifies that when you have a passenger (2 occupants) or a clear power allow, you need to use the HOV lanes. I normally use the HOV lanes, since I’ve a clear power allow. I at all times use the HOV lanes if I’m touring greater than 10 miles on I-15. It signifies that I’ve no automobiles on my left and the automobiles are slightly farther away on my proper as a result of there’s a double white line. That retains automobiles slightly farther aside than the dashed strains that separate the opposite lanes. Additionally, if I come to a congested space, the HOV lane is normally shifting sooner than the opposite lanes. Nevertheless, FSD Supervised normally tries to exit the HOV lane earlier than I need to. Within the earlier model of FSD Supervised, I may make my automobile keep within the HOV lane by knocking down the flip sign lever (as you’d do to point a left flip) and leaving it down. Tesla, in its knowledge, now turns off the flip sign after a number of seconds. My automobile will normally keep within the HOV lane as anticipated when there’s a double white line on my proper. Nevertheless, each few miles, it’s changed by a dashed line which lets you legally exit the HOV lane. Then FSD supervised will usually exit the HOV lane despite the fact that I don’t need it to take action. I need to now maintain the flip sign lever down or pull it down at simply the suitable on the spot to maintain my automobile from exiting the HOV lane.
• Velocity Bumps: FSD will now decelerate for pace bumps, however not 100% of the time.
• Doesn’t decelerate for flashing 20 mph faculty zone lights: When faculty kids are more likely to be current, the yellow lights above and beneath the 20-mph faculty zone signal will flash. FSD Supervised doesn’t reply to the flashing lights and my spouse not too long ago bought a rushing ticket for going via a faculty zone too quick. Each time you disengage FSD Supervised, Tesla provides you the choice to ship a recorded message explaining why you disengaged. I’ve had one dialog throughout my possession with a stay Tesla professional. The Tesla professional suggested me to report a message each time my automobile didn’t decelerate for a faculty zone. He implied that each faculty zone wanted to be marked within the database and I may assist them do it.

In the event you discover any of my articles useful to you and also you need to purchase a Tesla, be at liberty to make use of my referral hyperlink: https://ts.la/arthur73734. In case you are shopping for a brand new Tesla and use my hyperlink (remember to use it if you make your order), you’ll obtain $1,000 off your buy value of a Mannequin 3 or Mannequin Y and three months of Full Self-Driving. (Simply be ready to intervene instantly if it screws up.)