4 ms·

I don't think you can ever eliminate all accidents, but the ones that do happen shouldn't be as simple crashing into a truck in front of you because the sensors

• throwaway2016a 10y ago
  This article doesn't mention it but the Tesla press release pointed out... "the vehicle was on a divided highway with Autopilot engaged when a tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S"[1] Think about that for a second. How does that happen? Sounds like the truck was jack knifing, making an absurdly abrupt lane change, or the highway was not completed divided. Either way it's not like it was simply rear-ended, the car went under the side of the truck. I'm not a Tesla apologist by any stretch but this sounds like a bit of a freak thing. My guess is the physical sensor wouldn't pick up something that high off the ground (keep in mind this was the side of the truck not the back where there is a bumper) and any camera sensors didn't have enough contrast. To prevent this they would have to have sensors point UP and forward, which I would guess they will be doing after this. [1] https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/tragic-loss https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/tragic-loss
  • grillvogel 10y ago
    tesla press release may not be the most trustworthy source in this case
    • maratd 10y ago
      It's accurate. http://electrek.co/2016/07/01/understanding-fatal-tesla-accident-autopilot-nhtsa-probe/ http://electrek.co/2016/07/01/understanding-fatal-tesla-acci...
      • throwaway2016a 10y ago
        That article is the best one I have seen yet. I like that there is actually a diagram.