Bringing autonomous driving a step closer

Musk predicts that full automation of Tesla’s models could be a mere three years away, with the development of the AutoPilot software being key to achieve advanced cruise control and data collection to aid other automated driving features.

The race is most certainly on to achieve full driverless cars, with traditional automotive manufacturers such as Volvo, Mercedes and Audi all having automated systems in development, and Google already having autonomous vehicles on the roads of California.

However, it is still to some extent, a work in progress, with Tesla’s latest software update, which enables the car to actually change lanes, having experienced some issues in beta testing. These amounted to the AutoPilot system swerving the car across lanes (videos of which have been posted by drivers on social media). This has prompted Musk to stress caution to drivers and warned that they are still ultimately responsible for the vehicle and that hands should still be kept on the wheel at all times.

Despite the clear ironing out of creases like these, not to mention the need for cyber security and regulations for autonomous systems, the age of the driverless car is on the horizon. Musk has in fact intimated that eventually the human driven car could be banned altogether due to them ultimately being “too dangerous”.