Tesla Rolls Out Autopilot Update
CARS.COM — Tesla confirmed that starting today, a software update will roll out to Model S and Model X vehicles with the second generation of its Autopilot hardware (cars produced after October 2016).
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Updates have been coming regularly for the second-generation vehicles since December of 2016, unlocking and updating more and more safety features. Tesla says this update will affect four key areas:
- Full-speed automatic emergency braking. Automatic emergency braking was only offered at low speeds previously but will now work at all speeds.
- Smoother steering for Autopilot. Tesla updated the algorithm that controls the steering of the car when Autopilot is engaged to make it smoother longitudinally (left and right).
- Perpendicular parking for Autopark. The Hardware 2 vehicles previously offered parallel parking, but now it can back into a perpendicular parking space.
- Display brightness. The update adjusts the brightness of the screen based on the surroundings of the vehicle to make it easier to see, day and night.
These updates don’t bring the Hardware 2 cars (as Tesla calls them) beyond the functionality of the Hardware 1 cars — for now. Current Tesla owners of Hardware 2 cars should see this update roll out over the air soon.
