Tech

Tesla’s Autonomous Driving Software and Safety Research

Tesla’s autonomous driving software is shaping the future of transportation, combined with safety research. In this content, explore the safety impacts of the technologies developed by Tesla and the advantages of autonomous driving.

Published

5 months ago

July 18, 2024

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Tesla’s Autonomous Driving Software and Research Findings

While Tesla has released its latest update for fully automatic driving software, a new study conducted in the United Kingdom suggests that “supervised” autonomous driving modes like Tesla’s could negatively impact our overall driving quality.

Elon Musk claims that Tesla’s new software, labeled v12.4.3, includes fully retrained models that provide smoother acceleration and braking, allowing the driver to intervene less and thus increasing comfort levels. Musk is so confident in this updated software that, according to Electrek, he suggests that it will take “more than a year for a single intervention to be needed.” However, he emphasizes that there are still some bugs that need to be fixed before reaching this point.

As Tesla continues with its advanced semi and fully autonomous systems, some experts still believe that semi-autonomous vehicles pose safety risks. A study conducted by the University of Nottingham in the UK, designed to simulate SAE Level 3 autonomous driving (known as “conditional” automation where the driver does not drive under certain conditions), further raises concerns on this matter. The study analyzed the behaviors of 17 drivers, each accompanied by a front passenger.

In the study, drivers were allowed to take both hands off the steering wheel and divert their eyes from the road when the vehicle entered autonomous driving mode. This practice usually occurs on clearly marked highways or motorways, as well as at low speeds in congestion situations. During the tests, scientists found that a significant portion of participants spent most of their time chatting with their passengers, checking their smartphones or smartwatches, and even playing games. Some participants even went so far as to find the experience “boring.”

The Main Issue: Arises When Human Intervention is Required

However, researchers note that when the vehicle calls for human intervention, driving performance is severely affected by many distractions. The study states that “vehicle control was generally poor for all participants in the ten seconds immediately following a return to manual driving” and adds, “There was a noticeable deterioration in control after two to three seconds, and even after ten seconds, there was a tendency to remain unstable.” This situation led to erratic acceleration and braking, significant lateral imbalance, and even caused participants to miss intersections and directional signs as a result of being so engaged with games or secondary tasks.

This study, supported by the RAC Foundation, was initially designed to observe how drivers reacted in autonomous driving modes accompanied by a passenger in the front seat. However, researchers discovered that the additional distractions negatively impacted driving performance when it was time to regain control of the steering wheel. Additionally, it was observed that in many cases, the front passenger took on an observer role when they sensed the driver’s attention was diverted. This situation led scientists to conclude that automobile manufacturers need to “include all potential users in the design of future vehicles.”

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Tesla Semi Fire: NTSB Preliminary Report Released

The NTSB’s preliminary report on the Tesla Semi fire has been released. This content includes important information about the details of the incident, the causes of the fire, and Tesla’s safety measures. Explore the impact on Tesla’s electric vehicles and its future steps.

Published

3 months ago

September 17, 2024

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report stating that a Tesla Semi electric truck in California required firefighters to use “50,000 gallons” (approximately 190,000 liters) of water to extinguish a roadside fire. Firefighting teams also deployed an aircraft to drop fire retardant on nearby areas as a precautionary measure to control the fire.

The accident occurred on August 19 at 3:13 AM local time on the I-80 highway east of Sacramento. The electric truck went off the road while navigating a curve, collided with a roadside boundary marker, and then struck a tree, coming to a stop. Fortunately, the driver was not injured in the accident; however, considering their health condition, they were taken to the hospital.

The Tesla Semi’s large 900 kWh battery caught fire upon impact, and toxic smoke began to spread during the fire. While the fire continued with temperatures reaching up to 538°C, firefighters worked intensively to cool the blaze with water. However, due to the fire’s effects, the vehicle continued to burn until late in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Tesla sent a technical expert to the scene regarding fire safety and high voltage hazards.

The highway reopened to traffic at 7:20 PM local time, 16 hours after the accident. The NTSB, as an organization that can only make recommendations and cannot enforce regulations, sent a team to the area for investigation purposes. This major accident raised several issues, including dangerously hot fires and toxic smoke, which will attract the attention of many international organizations.

The NTSB had previously stated in 2021 that fires in the batteries of electric vehicles pose serious risks to emergency response teams and that the guidelines provided by manufacturers for such fires are inadequate.

Tech

New Leaks and Features About the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Discover the latest leaks and features about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Equipped with new technologies and advanced features, this smartphone elevates the user experience to a new level. Check it out for details!

Published

3 months ago

September 17, 2024

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New Leaks About Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung is expected to introduce the Galaxy S25 Ultra along with the Galaxy S25 series at the beginning of 2024, likely in January. Although no official announcement has been made yet, leaks regarding the upcoming flagship continue to spread rapidly on the internet. Notable leak source IceUniverse shared several new visuals of the Galaxy S25 Ultra in a post on the X platform. These visuals reveal the design differences between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

One of the notable features in the leaked images of the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the rounded corners of the phone. In contrast, this year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra has quite sharp corners, which has led to feedback from some users indicating discomfort while holding the device. Previous leaks have suggested that the Galaxy S25 Ultra may be somewhat larger.

A tweet shared by IceUniverse: Galaxy S25 Ultra Image

According to leaks, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to be thinner and lighter compared to previous models. In August, rumors emerged that the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra would be lighter than its competitors, with a weight of under 221 grams.

Another image featured in IceUniverse’s post shows close-ups of the sides of both next year’s expected flagship phone and Samsung’s current flagship. In this image, the side of the Galaxy S25 Ultra appears flatter with rounded corners. While these changes may not create a major revolution, they will generally positively affect the feel of the phone in hand.

Looking at other rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, it is expected that the company will offer top-tier screen and camera upgrades next year. Additionally, there is a strong expectation that the satellite connection feature will also be introduced alongside the Galaxy S25.

Tech

iOS 18 Officially Released: Innovations and Features

iOS 18 has been officially released! This update, packed with new features and innovations, elevates the user experience to the next level. Check out our article for details and discover the new offerings of iOS 18!

Published

3 months ago

September 17, 2024

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iOS 18 Officially Released: Here Are the Innovations!

Apple officially launched iOS 18 yesterday, as promised. After a long beta testing phase, this update brings many exciting new features for iPhone users.

iOS 18 Officially Released: Innovations and Features

New Features in iOS 18

Advanced Customization Options on the Home Screen: With iOS 18, users can now arrange app icons freely without sticking to the traditional grid layout. Additionally, there’s an option to change the colors of the icons and adjust their darkness levels. In short, you are no longer bound to a boring layout. It raises questions why Apple waited until 2024 to offer this feature.
Revamped Control Center: The Control Center is completely redesigned in iOS 18. Users will be able to group controls more comfortably, and developers can easily add controls from their applications. Also, there’s an option to divide the Control Center into pages, allowing different controls on each page.
RCS Messaging Support: With iOS 18, Apple introduces Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging support. Users can add various effects to their texts and react with new emojis for more colorful responses.
Updated Photos App: The Photos app is presented with a new opening page and a modern layout. Users can now browse photos by time, people, and many other criteria, reorder media files, and explore more with the “Collections” feature.
App Lock Feature: Users can now lock specific applications. For example, they can activate Face ID protection from the menu that appears when long-pressing an app icon. Thus, anyone wanting to open the app will have to pass the Face ID protection first.
Apple Intelligence: One of the important features of iOS 18 is Apple’s artificial intelligence kit, Apple Intelligence. However, to fully benefit from this feature, you’ll need to wait for the iOS 18.1 update. More information about Apple Intelligence can be found here.

How to Install iOS 18?