What Can Full Self-Driving Do?

The Tesla Dojo supercomputer controls the system, so there is no question about full driving autonomy. The necessary data is collected using 12 sensors and 8 external cameras on the car. You can enter a destination — the vehicle will take you independently, but you must always be alert. The platform cannot determine whether the driver follows the road and keeps his hands on the steering wheel. So far, it is only possible to do with his participation. The system includes the following options:
● Automatic support of the set speed and stop at a red light.● Identification of obstacles on the roadway (pedestrians, passing, and oncoming vehicles) with a warning of a frontal and side collision.● Recognition of road signs on the highway through the navigation system — the electric car can drive without human intervention from the ramp to the exit on the freeways (only of good quality).● Preventing driving outside the carriageway.● Determination and lane change to the best section — sensors allow you to detect the safest section of the road and change lanes by turning on the turn signal in the right direction.● Blind spot tracking.● Self-parking — the platform determines a place for perpendicular or parallel parking at a speed of 16-24 km/h, and neighboring cars act as landmarks.
The system has flaws, so it was assigned the 2nd level of autonomy (according to the SAE classification, there are 5 of them). An electric car cannot change the road lane, turn, or brake without the driver's participation. It cannot maneuver if obstacles are on track and respond to the stop sign. The update is undergoing beta testing, so it has not yet spread to the entire manufacturer fleet.

Differences from the Autopilot Package

Autopilot's job is to help you drive on the motorway, and Full Self-Driving complements it. Initially, the latter was created to provide autonomy on city streets, and now it is a new level of technology. It works on different roads at any time of the day.
The FSD package includes auto call functions — Summon and Smart Summon. They are activated after pressing the central button on the key fob. The electric car will come by itself if a person is standing within a radius of 50 m in the parking lot (for American models). In European electric vehicles, the working distance is somewhat limited — up to 6 m. The car owner must be in the line of sight: the software does not recognize all obstacles, so the function may not turn on.

The Latest Version of the Technology

The update, released in March 2023, combined the Enhanced Autopilot with autonomous driving on city streets. The car control options on the highway and around the city have become one. Transformed into a one-stage system, Full Self-Driving allows you to move from one point to another with almost no driver intervention. In the process of finalization, improvements touched on the following aspects:
1. Visual part. The electric vehicle display shows a complete trajectory. The display of stops at red lights and pedestrian crossings has also been changed. According to experts, the improved technology provides smoother braking.

2. Turning right. Some models stopped too far from the turning point. They turned slowly and with potent bursts, annoying other drivers. Now this movement is smooth and more natural.
The traffic light control feature is in beta testing. The car slows down when approaching any stop signs or traffic lights switched to green at an intersection. This is due to the appearance of a red line on the display, which shows the stop location. To continue driving, press the autopilot lever and the accelerator pedal for a few seconds. The car will not automatically turn even when driving through the turn lane or if the turn signal is turned on.

Access to the Platform

Electric car owners cannot automatically connect to the platform. The subscription costs $199 and can be canceled at any time. The technology works based on FSD 3.0 and higher. You can check which version is installed in the electric vehicle through the application or the onboard computer menu in the About the Model section.
Although Tesla is trying to expand the platform's geography, many things could be improved. It was impossible to connect it in the EU countries because of legal restrictions until the spring of 2023. Now, two versions of the S Model — P 100D and Plaid with an FSD update are undergoing beta testing in Germany and Belgium. If the owner has an American modification, the functionality of the technology is limited (automatic parking, braking, and sign recognition are not included). In Ukraine, the package is not officially available on Tesla electric cars, and the autopilot functions do not always work due to poor-quality roads.