Some cars Tesla Motors will be able to Park on their own, without the driver inside, thanks to the software update, which became available over the weekend. The update also limits the speed of a semi-Autonomous mode autopilot Tesla and introduces some enhancements, including automatic deceleration when driving around a curve and holding the car on its lane, even if the marking has worn off.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the function of Parking and it is a “baby step” to their ultimate goal: to allow drivers to encourage self-governing and self-charging cars from anywhere with your phone.
“I really believe, perhaps with excessive optimism that within two years you will be able to call your car across the country, said Musk at the conference. Is the first small step in this direction.”
Currently, however, the system is not fully Autonomous.
“It’s more Parking on the remote control,” says Musk.
Owners must be in line with the sedan Model S or Model X SUV 10 metres from the place where you want to enter or from which to travel. Then they should be within three metres and to tell the car to Park on their own, using the key FOB or a smartphone. The car also can leave this place when the driver calls him. If he is sent home in the garage, the car can also open and close the garage door.
Tesla says that this system is useful for places where it is difficult to Park, but warns that it should only be used on private property, so as not yet discovered all the possible obstacles. The car can hit the bike hanging from the garage ceiling, for example.
The software update also installs a new speed limit on a semi-Autonomous mode Tesla. The car is in autopilot mode (Autopilot) will now drive with limited speed roads and residential roads with no center divider. If a car is involved in an area with a mode of the autopilot, it will automatically slow down.
Musk said he’s not aware of the accident when Tesla was working in autopilot mode, but believes that this change will not be a problem for owners.
“On the road without a Central divider, where there is the potential for serious collisions, it makes sense to reduce the speed more than ten miles an hour,” he said.
Update will affect about 60,000 cars, including the Model S sedans produced after September 2014, and the new SUV Model X.