Tesla Full Self-Driving Testers Required to Share Crash Video

Tesla's FSD Update and Data Collection Consent

The newest release of Tesla’s FSD (Full Self-Driving) system requires drivers to provide consent for the collection of video data. This data will be captured by both the vehicle’s exterior and interior cameras. The collection is triggered in the event of an accident or a perceived “serious safety risk.”

According to a report by Electrek, this marks the first instance where Tesla will directly link footage to a particular vehicle and its driver. Previously, video footage gathered as part of FSD development was solely utilized for training and refining the AI-powered self-driving algorithms.

New Data Association Capabilities

The updated agreement now permits Tesla to associate video recordings with specific vehicles. The agreement explicitly states, “By enabling FSD Beta, I consent to Tesla’s collection of VIN-associated image data from the vehicle’s external cameras and Cabin Camera in the occurrence of a serious safety risk or a safety event like a collision.”

This change in policy suggests Tesla may be seeking to establish a record of events should its FSD system be implicated in an accident. It could also facilitate the rapid identification and resolution of critical system flaws.

Recent FSD Beta Issues and NHTSA Investigation

The wider rollout of FSD 10.3 was temporarily halted due to reported problems. These included instances of unnecessary Forward Collision Warnings and unexpected automatic braking maneuvers. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, acknowledged these issues as inherent to beta software.

He further explained that comprehensive testing across all hardware configurations and driving conditions is impossible through internal quality assurance alone, necessitating public testing. However, this effectively designates public road users as involuntary participants in the beta program.

Currently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating a complaint concerning a collision that occurred on November 3rd in Brea, California. The vehicle owner claims that FSD caused their Model Y to improperly change lanes, resulting in a collision and substantial vehicle damage.

Expanded Beta Access and Cost

Tesla is now extending the new beta release to a broader range of users. Eligibility is based on Driver Safety Scores of 98 or higher, a reduction from the previous requirement of a perfect 100.

Access to the FSD feature comes at a cost of $199 per month or a one-time purchase price of $10,000. Despite these charges, Tesla has consistently missed its projected timelines for achieving fully autonomous driving capabilities.

It’s important to note that the current FSD system is classified as a Level 2 system. This is significantly below the Level 4 automation required to genuinely qualify as “full self-driving.”

Source: This article was originally published on Engadget.