Tesla Autopilot Explained ​| Indy Auto Man, IN

tesla autopilot: full self-driving opportunities

Tesla announced the Full Self-Driving function several years ago. Since 2015, Tesla's development has come a long way from advanced cruise control to a combination of sensors, cameras, computers, and neural networks that can almost completely control an electric car, including driving on city streets. The first version of the autopilot with full self-driving mode (FSD) became available to Tesla owners only in the fall of 2020 and has since received constant updates and improvements.

However, there are still many questions about the FSD functions. In this article, the Indy Auto Man auto dealers’ representatives prepared answers to the most popular ones.

How to get full self-driving on your electric car?

used Tesla dealership | how to get full self-driving on your car

Firstly, the FSD package is an additional option. In the spring of 2024, Tesla sharply reduced the price of the top version of its proprietary autopilot. Now, the Full Self-Driving software package in the US costs $8,000 instead of $12,000. All Teslas have the necessary equipment from the factory to operate as FSD autos. It’s just a matter of remotely receiving the software via the Internet, and the process will start automatically after purchase.

For those who have already purchased it, the price of upgrading to "fully autonomous control" has decreased from 6,000 to 2,000 US dollars. Simultaneously, Tesla had halved the cost of an FSD subscription - to 99 dollars per month.

Technically, Full Self-Driving is not a full-fledged autopilot but an advanced cruise control with automatic lane change and a number of other assistants. According to the SAE classification, it corresponds to only two of five levels of autonomy and requires constant monitoring by the driver.

By the way, the Full Self-Driving Capability option appeared in the Tesla configurator long before even the minimal details about the timing of the advanced autopilot’s appearance on real cars became known. And, luckily, many Tesla buyers who purchased it at that time, got it much cheaper. Therefore, when buying a used Tesla, you can get a car with this option installed.

Tesla Model 3 overview

How to know whether the Tesla you are buying has full self driving capacity that doesn’t require subscription?

To find out if the Tesla you want to buy has Full Self Driving (FSD) without a subscription, look at the software details on the touchscreen. If it shows that it has the "FSD computer," it has the right hardware. However, you might still need to buy the FSD software to use those features.

What if I’m not ready to pay too much for FSD? Are there more affordable solutions ?

In addition to FSD, Tesla owners have another option — Enhanced Autopilot. It has almost the same capabilities as FSD, with the exception of recognizing traffic lights and STOP signs. Also, without FSD, the autopilot will not be complete, and will not be able to control the car on city streets in full.

It is also possible to purchase FSD by subscription with a small monthly payment. The subscription can be canceled at any time - therefore, you can pay for the autopilot only for a short period, for example, for a long trip on intercity highways.

It is important to understand that purchasing FSD today is, for the most part, an investment in the future of a particular electric car. For now, the autopilot is in the active beta testing stage, and the functionality is expanding with each firmware update. Tesla's ultimate goal is to provide complete autonomy when driving on any road, including populated areas with complex interchanges, traffic jams, lack of markings, adverse weather conditions, etc.

What's the difference between Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD features?

Tesla's Autopilot is a basic system that helps you stay in your lane and control your speed on highways. Full Self Driving (Supervised) can handle more driving situations, like operating on the city streets with less help from the driver. However, the driver still needs to watch the car and take control when needed. In simple terms, Autopilot is part of the more advanced full self driving mode.

What can the Tesla FSD autopilot do? Does it make sense to purchase it?

To answer this question, it’s worth looking at the entire path of Tesla FSD’s development since the public beta launched in October 2020. Except for a few major new features, FSD has been getting better — and that’s largely thanks to Tesla’s engineers. If you look at numerous videos of Tesla owners with FSD installed, you will notice that the main improvement is the increasing smoothness and precision. In other words, the autopilot is becoming more like a calm, experienced driver in its driving style.

The two videos below show different versions of FSD (the first video is from October 2020, and the second offers prospects for 2025). This demonstration clearly shows the difference in Tesla capabilities:

The public launch of beta version was preceded by years of development, which allowed Tesla owners to access a product that can no longer be called raw. The FSD autopilot confidently manages EVs along city streets from the very first firmware, recognizing road signs and traffic lights. It takes appropriate actions and makes left turns, letting oncoming traffic flow pass. The same applies, for example, to reactions to pedestrians, other road users, road infrastructure objects, etc. Also, FSD makes all the necessary lane changes, including overtaking slow cars or going around an obstacle.

In addition, already in October 2020, the Tesla autopilot could drive an electric car on country roads without any markings.

For recognizing easily emergency vehicles.- The main thing FSD has improved over time is the reaction smoothness and a wider range of responses to the road situation. Tesla owners note that the steering wheel angle becomes more correct, and there are fewer cases of so-called "phantom braking" (when the autopilot brakes in front of a non-existent obstacle).

Full Self-Driving autopilot controls the Tesla electric car well enough to trust it even in populated areas. In the majority of cases, Tesla will follow the markings and traffic lights, let pedestrians pass, follow the rules of the road, and generally behave as an experienced and intelligent driver should. The car owner will hardly need to intervene - except for entering the destination address into the navigation system. However, the FSD beta testing stage is not over yet. Drivers should not leave the car unattended in any case and must be ready to take control.

What the autopilot cannot handle?

Despite the wide capabilities, as well as the number and regularity of updates, questions still arise regarding the algorithm of Tesla autopilot operation. Reviews from Tesla owners refer to several nuances of FSD system.

The first is related to driving through intersections where STOP signs are installed. The problem is not repeated at all intersections, and it is not yet clear what its presence depends on in a particular case. In such areas, a Tesla car can brake for a mandatory stop before passing an intersection too far from the roadway and then very slowly drives up to its edge to continue moving. At the same time, a light press on the accelerator pedal is enough to pass the problematic section.

The second nuance may also be associated with the desire of FSD developers to make the system as safe as possible. The autopilot often stops the car to let cars moving along the roundabout pass, even if there are none - a live driver in such a situation would simply reduce the speed and FSD brakes to a complete stop. As in the case of a STOP sign, for a more confident passage, the driver only needs to press the accelerator - the autopilot will not turn off, but the car will continue to move along the specified route.

The third flaw of FSD, which can even lead to negative consequences, is phantom braking. The Tesla autopilot may slow down while driving on a highway without objective reasons. By the way, drivers often note that this happens when the artificial intelligence is noticeably unsure of the nature of the obstacle that has entered the autopilot’s field of view — for example, when an electric car passes large trucks and semi-trailers parked on the side of the road, or when such a vehicle changes lanes near a Tesla.

In addition, there are also cases of strong phantom braking, which usually occur not on highways but on narrow country roads. The nature of this phenomenon is still unknown.

Tesla Autopilot means an increased level of comfort and safety. Although we can't say when we will be able to completely transfer control of the car to artificial intelligence in urban conditions, new opportunities are already available to everyone. Buy your used Tesla in Indianapolis and become one step closer to the high-tech future.