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But autopilot in a plane doesn't require the pilot to take over in a split second. Keeping you level, at the right speed, in the right direction, etc. is enoug

But autopilot in a plane doesn't require the pilot to take over in a split second. Keeping you level, at the right speed, in the right direction, etc. is enough to keep the plane safe. Pilots have tens of seconds to reorient themselves to avert any disaster. In contrast, Telsa "autopilot" requires constant vigilance since you might have to take over without any warning.

outworlder 6y ago
> But autopilot in a plane doesn't require the pilot to take over in a split second. That's a very broad statement. Autopilots can disengage at any time and you are supposed to take control pretty much immediately.
- random314 6y ago
  Like the op said, split second takeover is not required in a flight autopilot
  - OnlyForF1 6y ago
    Yes it is... Especially when the autopilot causes the aircraft to enter a dangerous configuration.
- bdonlan 6y ago
  Where immediately is generally measured in seconds (with the exception of perhaps autoland). Normally the autopilot will have the plane trimmed at all times, so the plane will continue flying its current course for some time without control inputs.
ogre_codes 6y ago
> In contrast, Telsa "autopilot" requires constant vigilance since you might have to take over without any warning. Neither version eliminates the need for the pilot/ driver to cease situational control. Pilots have absolutely flown into the side of mountains while on autopilot. (Ironically called "Controlled flight into terrain"). The big difference between the two is in an aircraft there is less to collide with when the pilot screws up. The big problem isn't whether the two are actually similar or not, the problem is most people assume that autopilot on an aircraft does a lot more than what it actually does. In most cases, autopilot in an aircraft maintains heading and altitude, that's pretty much it. Adding to all the confusion is the fact that "Autopilot" in aircraft can mean a giant pile of different things, but the term was originally coined quite a while ago to refer to basic altitude/ bearing hold.
- catalogia 6y ago
  With a typical aircraft autopilot, the pilot is allowed to take their hands off the controls. Tesla's manual quite clearly forbids that.
  - FireBeyond 6y ago
    > Tesla's manual quite clearly forbids that. Now. It used to only require you to touch the steering wheel for 1 second every 15 minutes. Until regulators clamped down on that as grossly inadequate.
    - catalogia 6y ago
      Is there an archived copy of the manual somewhere that doesn't say to keep your hands on the wheel? I read it a few years ago and again a few months ago; from what I recall in both cases the manual insisted that drivers keep their hands on the wheels. But this is at odds with how their cars are promoted and evidently programmed. It seems to me that Tesla has been coyly but deliberately encouraging and facilitating a usage pattern which, for legal/liability reasons, they forbid in the manual.
      - FireBeyond 6y ago
        > It seems to me that Tesla has been coyly but deliberately encouraging and facilitating a usage pattern which, for legal/liability reasons, they forbid in the manual. I'd agree with you there. Same with Summon. "Deal with a fussy child while your car comes to you" says the promotion. Legalese says "must not be distracted (like you might be by a fussy child)". I'm sure that the manual probably says something exactly like that: "Driver is required to keep hands on the wheel. Your vehicle will warn you to put your hands on the wheel if they are not every fifteen minutes". Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, and don't mind our CEO blatantly not keeping his hands on the wheel in our videos.
  - ogre_codes 6y ago
    You are splitting hairs. The problem isn't whether someone has their hands on the controls or not, it's the fact that the operator isn't paying attention to what's going on outside the vehicle.

outworlder 6y ago

> But autopilot in a plane doesn't require the pilot to take over in a split second. That's a very broad statement. Autopilots can disengage at any time and you are supposed to take control pretty much immediately.

random314 6y ago
Like the op said, split second takeover is not required in a flight autopilot
- OnlyForF1 6y ago
  Yes it is... Especially when the autopilot causes the aircraft to enter a dangerous configuration.
bdonlan 6y ago
Where immediately is generally measured in seconds (with the exception of perhaps autoland). Normally the autopilot will have the plane trimmed at all times, so the plane will continue flying its current course for some time without control inputs.

ogre_codes 6y ago

> In contrast, Telsa "autopilot" requires constant vigilance since you might have to take over without any warning. Neither version eliminates the need for the pilot/ driver to cease situational control. Pilots have absolutely flown into the side of mountains while on autopilot. (Ironically called "Controlled flight into terrain"). The big difference between the two is in an aircraft there is less to collide with when the pilot screws up. The big problem isn't whether the two are actually similar or not, the problem is most people assume that autopilot on an aircraft does a lot more than what it actually does. In most cases, autopilot in an aircraft maintains heading and altitude, that's pretty much it. Adding to all the confusion is the fact that "Autopilot" in aircraft can mean a giant pile of different things, but the term was originally coined quite a while ago to refer to basic altitude/ bearing hold.

catalogia 6y ago
With a typical aircraft autopilot, the pilot is allowed to take their hands off the controls. Tesla's manual quite clearly forbids that.
- FireBeyond 6y ago
  > Tesla's manual quite clearly forbids that. Now. It used to only require you to touch the steering wheel for 1 second every 15 minutes. Until regulators clamped down on that as grossly inadequate.
  - catalogia 6y ago
    Is there an archived copy of the manual somewhere that doesn't say to keep your hands on the wheel? I read it a few years ago and again a few months ago; from what I recall in both cases the manual insisted that drivers keep their hands on the wheels. But this is at odds with how their cars are promoted and evidently programmed. It seems to me that Tesla has been coyly but deliberately encouraging and facilitating a usage pattern which, for legal/liability reasons, they forbid in the manual.
    - FireBeyond 6y ago
      > It seems to me that Tesla has been coyly but deliberately encouraging and facilitating a usage pattern which, for legal/liability reasons, they forbid in the manual. I'd agree with you there. Same with Summon. "Deal with a fussy child while your car comes to you" says the promotion. Legalese says "must not be distracted (like you might be by a fussy child)". I'm sure that the manual probably says something exactly like that: "Driver is required to keep hands on the wheel. Your vehicle will warn you to put your hands on the wheel if they are not every fifteen minutes". Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, and don't mind our CEO blatantly not keeping his hands on the wheel in our videos.
- ogre_codes 6y ago
  You are splitting hairs. The problem isn't whether someone has their hands on the controls or not, it's the fact that the operator isn't paying attention to what's going on outside the vehicle.