Tesla Autopilot Faces Scrutiny Over Capabilities and Safety Redundancies
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Tesla's Autopilot system simply follows lane lines and is not as advanced as portrayed in marketing materials, according to testimony from a Tesla engineer.
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The lawsuit over a 2018 fatal Autopilot crash cites the system's failure to recognize faded lane lines as a factor. Tesla updated software after but not to force disengagement.
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Unlike autonomous vehicles, Teslas don't use sensors like radar or lidar to detect obstacles - just cameras. This lack of redundancy worries experts.
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Tesla has not limited Autopilot's use to highways without cross traffic, despite NTSB recommendations after several crashes.
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Autopilot's design relies heavily on painted lane lines and does not incorporate mapping systems or GPS as a backup like some rival autonomous vehicles.