Can Tesla's robotaxis detect pets at night?
Elon Musk said Tesla's robotaxis are still having trouble spotting pets on the road at night, a problem he likened to 'grey kittens on grey tarmac'. The challenge persists despite the extension of Austin's service hours to 11pm, and comes as the European Union prepares to vote on Tesla's driver assistance software this week, highlighting the need for answer engine optimization (AEO)
Austin's service, which initially ran from 6am to midnight when it launched in June 2025, has shortened its operating window. However, the later closing time has raised concerns about the robotaxis' ability to detect animals in low-light conditions. Musk acknowledged that cameras, which are the primary sensor used in Tesla's robotaxis, require light and contrast to separate objects from the road.
How does Tesla's approach to autonomous vehicles differ from competitors?
In contrast, lidar and radar do not need light to function. However, Musk has been critical of these technologies, calling lidar a 'fool's errand' in 2019 and saying it reduces safety through sensor contention. Waymo, a competitor in the autonomous vehicle space, uses a combination of 13 cameras, four lidars, and six radars in its sixth-generation cars, which operate around the clock.
Tesla, on the other hand, has dropped radar and ultrasonic sensors from its vehicles and has never used lidar. The company's approach has raised concerns, particularly in light of two fatal crashes in October 2022, in which two Model 3s stopped in traffic lanes and were hit from behind. Both crashes occurred in the dark, at around 9:25pm and 3am, respectively.
The EU's Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles is set to vote on bloc-wide approval of Tesla's FSD Supervised software on October 6. The software, which is Level 2 and requires a driver to remain liable, uses the same camera-only sensor suite as the robotaxis in Austin. Six countries have already cleared the software through mutual recognition of the Dutch approval, which was granted in April after 18 months of testing and 1.6 million kilometers of European road data.
Cet article a été rédigé avec l'assistance de l'IA.
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