The Boring Company Tests Tesla Full Self-Driving in Las Vegas Tunnels

The Boring Company Tests Tesla’s Full Self-Driving in Las Vegas Tunnels

Elon Musk’s infrastructure and tunnel construction firm, The Boring Company, is currently evaluating Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system within the tunnels linking the Las Vegas Convention Center to surrounding hotels, as reported by Fortune.

According to Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, testing of the advanced driver assistance system has been underway for several months. These trials are being conducted in Tesla vehicles equipped with safety drivers.

Limited Operational Scope

However, widespread implementation of the technology remains distant. Hill indicated that practical, large-scale deployment is “a ways off” at this stage.

The Tesla tunnels have been operational for approximately four years. While expansion plans exist to broaden their coverage throughout Las Vegas, the current network primarily serves the area beneath and adjacent to the Convention Center.

Safety Driver Intervention Still Required

Despite Tesla’s recent, limited rollout of a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, and a comparable ride-hail program in San Francisco, and despite Elon Musk’s claims regarding the technology’s capabilities, safety drivers continue to be necessary.

These drivers must “periodically” assume control of the vehicles, demonstrating that the system is not yet fully autonomous.

Unique Tunnel Environment Presents Challenges

The relatively uncomplicated tunnel environment is expected to pose fewer obstacles for Tesla’s autonomy software compared to surface streets. A key area of focus is managing passenger embarkation and disembarkation at the underground stations.

Hill explained that the tunnels’ distinctive lighting and the texture of the rock walls present unique challenges. The system is encountering difficulties as the vehicles “find spots that are difficult for them” to interpret.

These visual elements require the driver assistance system to adapt and refine its perception capabilities.