Model S [Official] Tesla Model S

[Yaz]

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Somebody tried it:

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[Cashmere]

First fatality in a Model S as a result of AutoPilot. Despite AutoPilot being a beta feature, this is a huge blow for Tesla.

A Tragic Loss

The irony of this fatality is that, the same driver uploaded a video just a couple months ago of autopilot making a save.

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[Monster]

First fatality in a Model S as a result of AutoPilot. Despite AutoPilot being a beta feature, this is a huge blow for Tesla.

I think that is the biggest concern, there is no room for "beta" features on cars because when it goes wrong, life will be put at risk, more so than when a person's smart phone goes wrong (however to some it is like a life ending event).

Tesla and their marketing team really needs to be more realistic and cautious with their message to the customers.

 

[Rainer271]

First fatality in a Model S as a result of AutoPilot. Despite AutoPilot being a beta feature, this is a huge blow for Tesla.

A Tragic Loss

The irony of this fatality is that, the same driver uploaded a video just a couple months ago of autopilot making a save.

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Tesla driver dies after fatal crash in autopilot mode, raises questions on autonomous systems

A self-driving Tesla Model S was involved in an accident that occurred on May 7, resulting in the death of the driver. While semi and fully-autonomous cars have crashed before, this is believed to be the first death related to a vehicle with a semi-autonomous driving feature engaged.

The crash happened last month in the small city of Williston in Florida, with Ohio resident Joshua Brown, 45, in the driver’s seat of his 2015 Model S with Autopilot activated, when an 18-wheel semi made a left turn in front of the electric car. Brown died at the scene when “the car’s roof struck the underside of the trailer as it passed under the trailer”, the Levy Journal reported.

Brown was an active member of the Tesla community having uploaded many videos on his YouTube Channel, including ones showing the Autopilot system (see below), with one event capturing the attention of Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, who tweeted about it on his account.

In a brief statement, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Thursday it was aware of the accident and has launched a preliminary investigation sending a team to examine both the car and the crash site in Florida.

“ODI has identified, from information provided by Tesla and from other sources, a report of a fatal highway crash involving a 2015 Tesla Model S operating with automated driving systems (“Autopilot”) activated,” said the NHTSA. “This preliminary evaluation is being opened to examine the design and performance of any automated driving systems in use at the time of the crash.”

Tesla responded to the news with a blog post titled “A Tragic Loss” that starts off in the first paragraph by stating it was the first known Autopilot death in some 130 million miles driven by its customers, and continues saying that while the autonomous system is getting better, it’s not yet perfect and still requires the driver to remain alert. According to Tesla, “neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied”.

Here’s Tesla’s statement in full:

“We learned yesterday evening that NHTSA is opening a preliminary evaluation into the performance of Autopilot during a recent fatal crash that occurred in a Model S. This is the first known fatality in just over 130 million miles where Autopilot was activated. Among all vehicles in the US, there is a fatality every 94 million miles. Worldwide, there is a fatality approximately every 60 million miles. It is important to emphasize that the NHTSA action is simply a preliminary evaluation to determine whether the system worked according to expectations.

Following our standard practice, Tesla informed NHTSA about the incident immediately after it occurred. What we know is that the vehicle was on a divided highway with Autopilot engaged when a tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S. Neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied. The high ride height of the trailer combined with its positioning across the road and the extremely rare circumstances of the impact caused the Model S to pass under the trailer, with the bottom of the trailer impacting the windshield of the Model S. Had the Model S impacted the front or rear of the trailer, even at high speed, its advanced crash safety system would likely have prevented serious injury as it has in numerous other similar incidents.

It is important to note that Tesla disables Autopilot by default and requires explicit acknowledgement that the system is new technology and still in a public beta phase before it can be enabled. When drivers activate Autopilot, the acknowledgment box explains, among other things, that Autopilot “is an assist feature that requires you to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times," and that "you need to maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle” while using it. Additionally, every time that Autopilot is engaged, the car reminds the driver to “Always keep your hands on the wheel. Be prepared to take over at any time.” The system also makes frequent checks to ensure that the driver's hands remain on the wheel and provides visual and audible alerts if hands-on is not detected. It then gradually slows down the car until hands-on is detected again.

We do this to ensure that every time the feature is used, it is used as safely as possible. As more real-world miles accumulate and the software logic accounts for increasingly rare events, the probability of injury will keep decreasing. Autopilot is getting better all the time, but it is not perfect and still requires the driver to remain alert. Nonetheless, when used in conjunction with driver oversight, the data is unequivocal that Autopilot reduces driver workload and results in a statistically significant improvement in safety when compared to purely manual driving.

The customer who died in this crash had a loving family and we are beyond saddened by their loss. He was a friend to Tesla and the broader EV community, a person who spent his life focused on innovation and the promise of technology and who believed strongly in Tesla’s mission. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”
While there’s an ongoing investigation, the accident is bound to raise some legit questions about self-driving vehicles and whether autonomous systems (and today’s drivers) are ready for prime-time. Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, told Bloomberg that if the Autopilot system did not recognize the semi-truck, then Tesla must recall any vehicles equipped with this system.

“That’s a clear-cut defect and there should be a recall,” Ditlow said. “When you put Autopilot in a vehicle, you’re telling people to trust the system even if there is lawyerly warning to keep your hands on the wheel.”

Eric Noble, president of CarLab Inc., a consulting firm in Orange, California, had harsher words for Tesla, which said in its posting that Autopilot “is a new technology and still in public beta phase”. Noble told Bloomberg that “No other automaker sells unproven technology to customers”.

“There’s not an experienced automaker out there who will let this kind of technology on the road in the hands of consumers without further testing,” Noble told the news agency. “They will test it over millions of miles with trained drivers, not with consumers.”

Source: Carscoops

 

[martinbo]

Always take the time to read the story:

A Tragic Loss
The Tesla Team June 30, 2016
We learned yesterday evening that NHTSA is opening a preliminary evaluation into the performance of Autopilot during a recent fatal crash that occurred in a Model S. This is the first known fatality in just over 130 million miles where Autopilot was activated. Among all vehicles in the US, there is a fatality every 94 million miles. Worldwide, there is a fatality approximately every 60 million miles. It is important to emphasize that the NHTSA action is simply a preliminary evaluation to determine whether the system worked according to expectations.

Following our standard practice, Tesla informed NHTSA about the incident immediately after it occurred. What we know is that the vehicle was on a divided highway with Autopilot engaged when a tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S. Neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied. The high ride height of the trailer combined with its positioning across the road and the extremely rare circumstances of the impact caused the Model S to pass under the trailer, with the bottom of the trailer impacting the windshield of the Model S. Had the Model S impacted the front or rear of the trailer, even at high speed, its advanced crash safety system would likely have prevented serious injury as it has in numerous other similar incidents.

It is important to note that Tesla disables Autopilot by default and requires explicit acknowledgement that the system is new technology and still in a public beta phase before it can be enabled. When drivers activate Autopilot, the acknowledgment box explains, among other things, that Autopilot “is an assist feature that requires you to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times," and that "you need to maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle” while using it. Additionally, every time that Autopilot is engaged, the car reminds the driver to “Always keep your hands on the wheel. Be prepared to take over at any time.” The system also makes frequent checks to ensure that the driver's hands remain on the wheel and provides visual and audible alerts if hands-on is not detected. It then gradually slows down the car until hands-on is detected again.

We do this to ensure that every time the feature is used, it is used as safely as possible. As more real-world miles accumulate and the software logic accounts for increasingly rare events, the probability of injury will keep decreasing. Autopilot is getting better all the time, but it is not perfect and still requires the driver to remain alert. Nonetheless, when used in conjunction with driver oversight, the data is unequivocal that Autopilot reduces driver workload and results in a statistically significant improvement in safety when compared to purely manual driving.

The customer who died in this crash had a loving family and we are beyond saddened by their loss. He was a friend to Tesla and the broader EV community, a person who spent his life focused on innovation and the promise of technology and who believed strongly in Tesla’s mission. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

Autonomous Driving isn't infallible - it can't be expected at this stage to mitigate every kind of road risk scenario.
A similar situation happened down here in SA. Political party members were returning late at night from an event at high speed in (I seem to recall it was) a Touareg. Same thing - horse and trailer making a U-turn across a national freeway (cockhead), Touareg comes over the blind rise and gets peeled open like a tin of anchovies. Didn't stand a chance. The difference - a human behind the wheel. The outcome - pretty similar.

Road use is, first and foremost an exercise in communal responsibility. Even with Autonomous Driving aids the onus remains on the driver to be responsible for observation and control at all times.

Autonomous Driving does not mean that you can place complete faith in the system and detach yourself from the responsibilities presently required to be a road user. Just like in aviation's use of autopilot - a human being is still ultimately responsible for the monitoring and control of the situation through constant vigilance.

 

[Sunny]

The difference - a human behind the wheel.

Another difference -one that never gets enough attention - the software/hardware will probably be updated to address what caused this - a white colored trailer high of the ground against the sun - and just like that automagically all the other cars with the same system will learn from it and probably never have a similar accident again. This, IMO (and quite a few AI experts) is the one of the biggest advantage of AI - the ability of a whole population (of cars in this case) to almost instantaneously learn in real time from one example.

Will be a travesty if that is slowed down by human society's tendency to sensationalize news.

 

[Monster]

Another difference -one that never gets enough attention - the software/hardware will probably be updated to address what caused this - a white colored trailer high of the ground against the sun - and just like that automagically all the other cars with the same system will learn from it and probably never have a similar accident again. This, IMO (and quite a few AI experts) is the one of the biggest advantage of AI - the ability of a whole population (of cars in this case) to almost instantaneously learn in real time from one example.

Will be a travesty if that is slowed down by human society's tendency to sensationalize news.

The next stage of autonomous driving will be car to x communication technology, Porsche, Mercedes and Toyota have started. Now we need the government and other tech companies to work together to develop an intelligent road network.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Here's a diagram of the accident.

 

[Touring]

As a new tesla owner I can say the center screen is very distracting. Happens alot I have to correct the car heading out of the road or into the other lane while trying to do minor things like changing radio stations, closing the sunroof etc. Closing the sunroof after entering a tunnel: find 'control' icon, then 'sunroof', then slide your finger to close it. The 'autopilot' I only use on Highways.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

And here's a Google Street View photo of the intersection where the incident occurred.

 

[Monster]

It is difficult to say or judge from the limited information we have, the graph helps a little but it wasn't to scale, and from the street view, it seems like the truck can indeed turn into the side street. I can't imagine the truck of this size to turn quickly, so for the car to hit the back end of the trailer, it means that the truck was already in the process of finishing turning when the car hit.

Without knowing how fast the car was travelling at the time, it is difficult to comment.

 

[EnI]

Foto: Reuters, AP/dpa

Source: abc

 

[Monster]

Foto: Reuters, AP/dpa

Source: abc

Terrible accident, and what a terrible scene.

I do think the current technology has been over hyped by tech websites such as this

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/600772/10-breakthrough-technologies-2016-tesla-autopilot/

to the point where the general public, with general knowledge of tech (nothing beyond their smart phone and tablet) become too trusting of what the system promised to do, but fail to understand the current limitations of what it can do.

Also the marketing term "Autopilot" is miss leading. People relate this system to the autopilot function on planes. For Mercedes at least, their semi autonomous driving functions all have the word "assists" with them.

 

[Monster]

Does anyone have more info on the similarities of the system used on Tesla and on other cars, does it use sensors that can be bought off the shelf from suppliers or are they customized or designed by Tesla.

 

[Yaz]

Active cruise control can't see merging traffic, until they are dead center in front of it.

I wonder if he dozed off.

 

[Giannis]

Guys, I have some questions (didn't have the time to investigate properly):

1. How are we sure that it was the Autopilot driving?

2. The truck made a wrong turn, violating the Tesla's right of way?

3. If the truck wasn't a truck but a regular MPV full of children and one of them died after being hit by the Tesla's autopilot, who would bear responsibility?

 

[Yaz]

The autopilot feature is still in beta, so Tesla has all the data.

 

[Monster]

To be fair to Tesla, it did list out the limitations of the autopilot function on the owners manual here at page 58:

Limitations Forward Collision Warning cannot always detect vehicles, bikes, or pedestrians, and you may experience unnecessary, inaccurate, invalid or missed warnings for many reasons, particularly if:
• The road has sharp curves. Forward Collision Warning 58 Model S Owner's Manual • Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.).
• Bright light (oncoming headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering with the camera's view.
• The radar sensor in the center of the front grill is obstructed (dirty, covered, etc.).
• The windshield area in the camera's field of view is obstructed (fogged over, dirty, covered by a sticker, etc.).

Warning: The list above does not represent an exhaustive list of situations that may interfere with proper operation of Forward Collision Warning. Forward Collision Warning may fail to provide warnings for many other reasons. To avoid a collision, stay alert and always pay attention to the area in front of Model S so you can anticipate the need to take corrective action as early as possible. Forward

https://www.teslamotors.com/sites/default/files/Model-S-Owners-Manual.pdf

 

[Beemer B773ER]

DVD player found in Tesla car in fatal May crash

(Reuters) - A digital video disc player was found in the Tesla car that was on autopilot when its driver was killed in a May 7 collision with a truck, Florida Highway Patrol officials said on Friday.

Whether the portable DVD player was operating at the time of the crash has not been determined, however, and witnesses who came upon the wreckage of the 2015 Model S sedan gave differing accounts on Friday about whether the player was showing a movie.

...

It could be weeks if not months before officials make a final determination of the cause of the crash, the first known fatality of a Model S driver while using Autopilot. Meanwhile, the accident is stoking the debate on whether drivers are being lulled into a false sense of security by such technology. A man who lives on the property where Brown's car came to rest some 900 feet from the intersection where the crash occurred said when he approached the wreckage 15 minutes after the crash, he could hear the DVD player. An FHP trooper on the scene told the property owner, Robert VanKavelaar, that a "Harry Potter" movie was showing on the DVD player, VanKavelaar told Reuters on Friday.

Another witness, Terence Mulligan, said he arrived at the scene before the first Florida state trooper and found "there was no movie playing."

"There was no music. I was at the car. Right at the car," Mulligan told Reuters on Friday.

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0ZH5BW

 

[SCOTT27]

This is the issue with autonomous Driving is that it is left to social media to showcase look how brilliant I am not driving "Look no hands" to explain it in the incorrect terms. Autonomous driving always requires assistance as does regular driving. Manufacturers do their best at cost dollar on marketing to explain this but all it takes is a few selfless idiots on social media to undo this.