Is Tesla's FSD Really Understanding Pedestrian Hand Signals? We Put It to the Ultimate Test!
In a world where autonomous driving technology is rapidly advancing, the claim that Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system can now interpret pedestrian hand signals sparked massive intrigue. But is this capability real, or just wishful thinking? We decided to put Tesla's FSD to the test in a series of real-world experiments designed to see just how smart this system really is when it comes to non-verbal communication with pedestrians.
The Prelude to the Test
Recent online discourse has seen Tesla enthusiasts and skeptics alike debating the FSD's ability to read and respond to pedestrian hand signals. This speculation was fueled further when an online post describing such an incident caught the attention of Tesla's Autopilot lead, Ashok, and the official Tesla X account, hinting that there might be truth to these claims.
The Test Begins
Armed with curiosity and a sense of responsibility, we set out with a comprehensive plan to test the Tesla's FSD feature under various pedestrian interaction scenarios. Accompanied by a willing participant, Stephanie, we conducted numerous tests involving direct walking, surprising stops, hand signals to proceed, and eventually, complete halts, all to discern how Tesla's FSD would react.
Observations and Findings
To our disappointment, initial tests where Stephanie signaled for the Tesla to proceed did not yield definitive evidence that the FSD system could interpret her hand gestures. Despite varying the signals' intensity and the pedestrian's position, the vehicle's reactions remained inconsistent. However, the Tesla FSD exhibited a cautious approach, hesitating and halting as Stephanie crossed or even feigned crossing, indicating its default to prioritize safety.
Pushing the Boundaries
Not satisfied with just pedestrian interactions at crossings, we expanded our experiment to non-intersection scenarios and introduced more complex gestures, including stop signals without body movement, to test the system's limits. Remarkably, the vehicle consistently failed to respond to stop gestures, driving around Stephanie as if she were just another roadside object.
Conclusion: Safety Over Communication
Our extensive testing led us to conclude that while Tesla's FSD displays an impressive level of caution and safety when dealing with pedestrians, it does not seem to actively interpret hand signals as a means of communication. This experience sheds light on the current state of autonomous driving technology and sparks a bigger conversation about how vehicles and humans will interact in the future as this technology continues to evolve.
Despite the somewhat anticlimactic results, our adventure was not without its heartwarming moments, including a serendipitous dog rescue. At the end of the day, our experiments offered a fascinating glimpse into the capabilities and limitations of Tesla's heralded FSD technology, reminding us all of the road still ahead in the quest for full vehicular autonomy.