Elon Musk has long championed self-driving technology, positioning Tesla as a leader with features like Autopilot and the upcoming Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. While Tesla aims for level 3 autonomy in Europe, its fully autonomous Cybercab, designed without pedals or a steering wheel, is not yet legally allowed. The company plans to implement a teleoperation team to assist its Robotaxi fleet, a strategy also used by Waymo, raising questions about the timeline for achieving fully autonomous vehicles.
For years, Elon Musk has been a strong advocate for self-driving cars. He has positioned Tesla as a trailblazer in this arena, introducing the Autopilot feature on the Model S nearly a decade ago.
A Nearly Autonomous Driving Experience
As time has passed, advancements in technology have continued, although reports suggest that the effectiveness of this system is diminishing in Europe. Nevertheless, Tesla is committed to enhancing its autonomous capabilities, offering its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature that approaches level 3 autonomy. This feature is expected to debut in Europe next year, while Musk is already pushing forward with ambitious plans.
Last October, Tesla revealed its upcoming fleet of Robotaxis, featuring the innovative Cybercab. This vehicle boasts a unique characteristic: it is fully autonomous, lacking both pedals and a steering wheel, which theoretically places it at level 5 autonomy. This means that passengers could potentially relax or work during their journey without needing to intervene. However, such a high level of autonomy is not yet legally permissible.
Currently, only Mercedes is permitted to test level 4 autonomy in China, and under strict regulations. Tesla, on the other hand, is limited to level 3, hindering the use of the new Cybercab. Nevertheless, with an estimated fortune of 348 billion dollars, Elon Musk has innovative strategies in mind to ensure the success of his autonomous vehicles by incorporating human oversight.
On November 25, Tesla posted a job listing indicating plans to establish a teleoperation team tasked with remotely managing its Robotaxi fleet. Interested applicants must possess skills as a C++ specialized engineer, as they will be responsible for developing the application to aid remote operators in assisting vehicles on the road.
A Familiar Approach in the Industry
While the specific roles of these teleoperators remain unclear, reports from Numerama suggest that they will primarily step in during complicated scenarios where artificial intelligence falls short. This is likely to occur in challenging urban environments. Some systems, like the one tested on the Denza N7 in China, have shown impressive capabilities, and further details are expected soon.
Tesla is not alone in this approach; Waymo, another American company, also employs human supervisors for its fleet of autonomous vehicles. In California, such oversight is a requirement for obtaining a license for operating these vehicles, compelling Tesla to adhere to this regulation for the time being.
However, this strategy raises questions about Musk’s promise of delivering a fully autonomous vehicle. Additionally, he plans to use teleoperators to oversee the robot Optimus, designed to perform various tasks in homes and businesses without human intervention. Yet, achieving this goal remains a distant prospect for now.