So, check this out. Two Tesla influencers decided it would be a great idea to embark on a coast-to-coast trip in a brand new Model Y called ‘Juniper.’ The car is the upgraded version of Tesla’s best-seller. The trip kicked off with the content creator known as ‘Bearded Tesla Guy’ behind the wheel alongside a friend.
But guess what? They didn’t make it very far — only about 60 miles!
In a video shared by Bearded Tesla and highlighted by Electrek, you can see a rather large object ahead on the highway. At first, the passenger thinks it might be roadkill. However, as they approach, it becomes clear that it’s some solid, human-made debris.
Unfortunately, the Full Self-Driving system appeared totally oblivious. The car crashed right over the object, took a serious bounce, and hit the pavement hard. The driver had to manually bring the car to a stop! Talk about dramatic!
This all occurred before they even left the state of California. Not exactly the best start to their epic adventure!
The driver, upon realizing the situation, can be heard saying, ‘This is not how I anticipated it starting.’
As it turns out, that obstacle was a metal girder that most likely fell from a truck. Thankfully, no one got injured, but the car did not fare well. According to Electrek, the road-trippers later revealed that the Model Y suffered from a broken sway bar bracket and suspension damage.
This incident raises some serious doubts about Tesla’s self-driving capabilities, especially since CEO Elon Musk has consistently claimed the tech can drive itself. Ironically, Musk had predicted almost ten years ago that by 2018, Teslas would be capable of crossing the country solo — no driver needed!
Even with the name ‘Full Self-Driving,’ the tech still requires constant human supervision, and it’s far from being truly autonomous. This has previously led to legal actions by the California DMV for misleading advertising. They even switched the name to ‘Full Self-Driving (Supervised),’ but it’s a pretty confusing label that doesn’t fully represent how limited the tech actually is.
Numerous accidents involving Tesla vehicles running on Full Self-Driving or Autopilot systems have been reported over the years, some resulting in fatalities. This latest incident brings Musk’s stubborn resistance to using lidar systems to mind, which he once referred to as a ‘crutch.’ He’s instead stuck with a ‘vision only’ method relying solely on camera data, a decision many critics believe could backfire.
Sure, the driver ought to have taken action earlier, but the system itself should not have ignored such a large obstacle in its path. It should have detected the object and attempted to brake or steer around it. Who knows, with more varied sensors that can operate in different weather and lighting conditions, this might have been avoided altogether.
Feeling bewildered by the whole event, the cameraman remarked, ‘I’m speechless on what just happened. Absolutely speechless.’
More on Tesla:Self-Driving Teslas Keep Driving Into the Path of Oncoming Trains.
The article originally appeared on Futurism.
