Okay, so we all want self-driving cars to handle everything while we kick back and relax. But some of these electric vehicles? Not quite there yet!
Recently, a passenger in Austin, Texas, couldn’t believe his eyes when he posted a video of a Tesla Robotaxi going in circles in a parking lot. This car just couldn’t figure out how to get out!
What’s Happening with the Robotaxi?
In the clip on X, Dan Burkland, an EV fan, documents his ride, as the Robotaxi loops round and round without finding an exit. Apparently, there was a change in the usual layout, which left the regular exit blocked with cones. After making six endless loops, Dan reached out to Tesla support for help.
The Tesla support agent had to intervene remotely, guiding the car through the exit. “It seems like it’s not really progressing,” the agent stated about the vehicle, which kept stopping randomly as if someone was messing with its mind, according to Burkland. Eventually, the Robotaxi successfully followed the provided instructions and left the parking area.
Dan surely felt relieved saying, “I’m thankful that Tesla support has a protocol for situations like this.”
Why Should We Care About This?
This incident raises eyebrows, especially given that Elon Musk envisions deploying this same self-driving tech in numerous vehicles by next year. Yet, to date, Tesla’s limited pilot program in Austin has attracted scrutiny, prompting federal regulators to reach out over possible safety concerns.
As of now, Tesla’s tech is rated just Level 2 autonomy, meaning it still needs a human to oversee operations, while competitors like Waymo have advanced significantly to achieve Level 4 autonomy, needing no oversight for specific areas.
Both major players in the self-driving league have faced their share of navigation blunders, particularly with navigation through roundabouts or tricky road scenarios. However, Tesla has faced harsh criticism for rushing into full commercial service, generating incidents of Robotaxis driving into oncoming traffic or behaving quite erratically.
What’s Next for Robotaxi Challenges?
In this case, Tesla’s support team managed to take control of the situation, but only after the passenger made the call for help. As these services grow, quick problem-resolution will be increasingly important.
Many are worried that if the Robotaxi experiences continue inundated with glitches, it could tarnish not just Tesla’s image but also the future of electric vehicles.
This is crucial since getting rid of gas-powered vehicles in favor of EVs plays a significant role in combating harmful emissions, tackling rising global temperatures, and addressing extreme weather.
The good news is you don’t have to bank on just one car brand or autonomous tech for your next car. Many new players are popping up in the EV space, offering a variety of choices that can really help ease our environmental impact while saving on gas costs.
Sign up for our free newsletter to catch up on the latest trends enhancing our lives and shaping our future, and explore this great list of simple ways to help yourself while supporting the planet.
Concerning passenger video shows Tesla Robotaxi struggling with simple driving task: ‘Vehicle seems to be failing to make progress’ first appeared on The Cool Down.
