Tesla Removes Ultrasonic Sensors & Launches Vision-Based Occupancy Network on All Model 3 & Y

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Tesla is removing ultrasonic sensors from its vehicles and is launching a vision-based occupancy network for all Model 3 and Model Y within a few months, followed by all Model S and Model X in 2023.

Tesla announced the start of large-scale measures to expand the safety of all its vehicles. In 2021, the company began moving to Tesla Vision by removing radar from new Model 3 and Model Y cars, and in 2022 from Model S and Model X. Today, in most regions of the world, these vehicles now rely on Tesla Vision, a camera-based Autopilot system. The company said that compared to radar-equipped vehicles, Model 3 and Model Y with Tesla Vision either maintained or improved their active safety ratings in the U.S. and Europe, and perform better in pedestrian automatic emergency braking (AEB) intervention.

Now Tesla is taking the next step by removing ultrasonic sensors (USS) from Model 3 and Model Y. The company will continue this rollout with Model 3 and Model Y worldwide over the next few months, and then with Model S and Model X in 2023, the manufacturer said.

Along with the removal of USS, the company simultaneously launched its vision-based occupancy network, which is currently being used in Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta, to replace the inputs generated by USS. Tesla explained that with today’s software, this approach gives Autopilot “high-definition spatial positioning, longer range visibility and ability to identify and differentiate between objects.” Tesla reminded us that just like with its other features, the occupancy network will continue to improve rapidly over time.

The manufacturer said that for a short period of time during this transition, Tesla Vision vehicles that are not equipped with USS will be delivered with some features temporarily limited or inactive, including:

• Park Assist: alerts you of surrounding objects when the vehicle is traveling <5 mph.
• Autopark: automatically maneuvers into parallel or perpendicular parking spaces.
• Summon: manually moves your vehicle forward or in reverse via the Tesla app.
• Smart Summon: navigates your vehicle to your location or location of your choice via the Tesla app.

Once these features have reached the performance parity to today's vehicles, they will be restored via a series of over-the-air software updates. All other available Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capability features will be active at delivery, depending on order configuration.

© 2022, Eva Fox | Tesmanian. All rights reserved.

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