Tesla's Game-Changing FSD Update: No More Steering Wheel Nag

Tesla enthusiasts, rejoice! The innovative automaker has finally rolled out its 2024.15.5 software update, featuring the much-anticipated Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised version 12.4.1. This update promises to transform your driving experience with advanced cabin camera monitoring and an array of groundbreaking features that will relieve you of the infamous steering wheel nag.

Cabin Camera Driver Monitoring: What’s New?

The latest iteration of Tesla’s FSD includes a cutting-edge cabin camera driver monitoring system. This technology ensures that drivers remain attentive by tracking their eyes, effectively eliminating the steering wheel nag that has long been a source of contention among Tesla owners. However, it's important to note that drivers must keep their eyes visible at all times – so no low brim hats or sunglasses. A small green dot will indicate when the camera is active, similar to the notification iPhone users receive when an app accesses their camera.

"Green light means you’re nag free!" - Whole Mars Catalog

— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) June 8, 2024

FSD (Supervised) v12.4.1: A Neural Network Revolution

An impressive leap forward, the city-streets driving stack in FSD v12.4.1 now relies on a single end-to-end neural network. This network, which has been trained on millions of video clips, replaces over 300,000 lines of explicit C++ code. The result? A more cohesive and sophisticated driving system that can navigate complex urban environments.

Driving Under Supervision: What to Expect

The Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature can guide your Tesla almost anywhere, provided you remain attentive. From performing lane changes and selecting forks to navigating around obstacles and executing turns, this system offers a near-autonomous driving experience. Activation is as simple as pulling the drive stalk down once, but remember, you must remain vigilant as the technology does not render the vehicle fully autonomous.

• Requires you and authorized users to remain attentive.
• Enabled by pulling the drive stalk down once.
• Can be disabled in Autopilot Settings.

Safety First: Autopilot Suspension Mechanism

To ensure safety, Tesla has implemented a stringent Autopilot suspension mechanism. Improper use of FSD (Supervised), defined by receiving five “Autopilot Strikeouts,” will trigger a suspension. A Strikeout occurs when the system forcibly disengages after several warnings for driver inattentiveness. Notably, driver-initiated disengagements don’t count against you, and one Strikeout is forgiven for each 7-day period without recurrence. A suspension typically lasts around one week, effectively tightening the reins on irresponsibility.

• Improper usage leads to suspension after five “Autopilot Strikeouts.”
• Strikeouts are based on forced disengagements due to inattentiveness.
• Driver-initiated disengagements are exempt.
• One Strikeout forgiven per 7-day period of proper use.

Vision-Based Attention Monitoring: Keeping You in Check

The focal point of this update is its vision-based attention monitoring system, which uses the cabin camera to ensure driver attentiveness. The system requires a clear and continuous view of the driver’s eyes. If the camera is obstructed, a combination of torque-based and vision-based monitoring takes over. A green dot appears next to the steering wheel icon when the camera is active, escalating warnings if inattentiveness is detected, potentially leading to a Strikeout.

• Uses the cabin camera to monitor driver attentiveness.
• Requires continuous visibility of the driver’s eyes.
• If obstructed, uses torque-based and vision-based monitoring.
• Green dot indicator when the camera is active.

Check out this first drive of FSD (Supervised) 12.4.1 at night with @WholeMarsBlog. Cabin camera monitoring also works at night: