When we tested the initial Autopilot features in the Model S, we were very impressed. The thing practically drives itself. Now the company is planning even more driverless functionality, revealing it almost drove the thing from Seattle to San Francisco without touching the controls.
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Road Trip: 3000km Around Australia In A Tesla Model S
Real-life Tony Stark and Tesla’s founder, Elon Musk, revealed on a press call today that the company has been testing its Autopilot functionality ahead of its release to the public.
He detailed how the company has been testing it between Seattle and San Francisco, saying that the testers have basically been “almost able to go without touching the controls at all”. That’s 1300km between the two: pretty goddamn impressive if you ask me.
Tesla also promised an over-the-air software update to end the “range anxiety” some users feel when they take their Model S out for a run.
An updated satellite navigation app will warn the driver when it’s going out of range of a Supercharger and encourage them to return for some juice. It’s coming in version 6.2 of the car’s software which will launch in a few weeks.
Elon Musk said of the car that it’s now “impossible to run out unless you do so intentionally”. Those must be some warnings.