If you were looking for the video of that idiot who filmed himself sticking an orange on his Tesla Model S steering wheel to trick it, here it is.
The number one rule of the internet is that you really can’t delete anything, the internet will remember. Earlier today (Jan 15, 2018) some bright-eyed Tesla Model S owner thought it would be clever to trick Tesla’s autopilot system by sticking an orange into the steering wheel, mimicking a hand. Realizing the amount of backlash he was receiving wasn’t going to slow down anytime soon, he decided to delete it hours after it started to really pick up some serious steam. Unfortunately, for him, the internet doesn’t forget and someone already downloaded a copy, re-uploaded it, and here we are. Check out the uploaded video for yourself below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl9y7v8UohM
Tesla has a suite of cameras, a radar, and a dozen sensors that compromises its autopilot system which combines active lane guidance, lane changing and emergency braking all packaged together to make sure you don’t slam into things. The catch is that it’s not a fully autonomous system and ultimately you’re still in control.
However, according to this smug owner, if you stick an orange in the steering wheel, the warning that normally pops up to remind you to put your hands on the wheel no longer pops up. Effectively, you’re tricking your Tesla into believing that you’ve still got your hands on the wheel. This is bad!
Tesla’s autopilot system is still at Level 2 which means you must be able to take control at any time. Tesla’s autopilot system is nowhere near Level 3 which means you can literally do something else with confidence and is not even close to realizing Level 4 autonomy which means drivers can confidently take a nap.
In the original uploader’s defense, he does caution drivers that “you should stay awake and isn’t recommending this.” He does however goes on to say that, “For me…driving 5 hours through Utah…this is a thing of beauty.”
I’d have to rebut by saying he’s wrong on that last conjecture as when you’ve got your guard down is really when you should be paying the most attention.
