Tesla autopilot system under scrutiny

The performance of the Tesla Autopilot function is being investigated by US car safety officials after a driver was killed in a crash while the autonomous system was deployed. The driver in Florida hit the side of a truck trailer after neither he nor the self-driving system apparently noticed the vehicle pulling across the path of the test 2015 Tesla Model S.

Having been informed about the crash by Tesla itself, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary evaluation into the performance of Autopilot to determine whether the system worked according to expectations.

Tesla said in a statement, “What we know is that the vehicle was on a divided highway with Autopilot engaged when a tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S. Neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied.

“The high ride height of the trailer combined with its positioning across the road and the extremely rare circumstances of the impact caused the Model S to pass under the trailer, with the bottom of the trailer impacting the windshield of the Model S.

“Had the Model S impacted the front or rear of the trailer, even at high speed, its advanced crash safety system would likely have prevented serious injury as it has in numerous other similar incidents.”

Autopilot uses ultrasonic sensors and a forward-facing camera to control the car. It is designed primarily for motorway use, where it can switch between lanes without any direct steering input from the driver and react to traffic flow.

It is believed that this is the first fatality caused when an autonomous driving function has been deployed. Tesla stressed that use of Autopilot required the driver to keep their hands on the wheel at all times, “It is important to note that Tesla disables Autopilot by default and requires explicit acknowledgement that the system is new technology and still in a public beta phase before it can be enabled.

“When drivers activate Autopilot, the acknowledgment box explains, among other things, that Autopilot “is an assist feature that requires you to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times," and that "you need to maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle” while using it. “Additionally, every time that Autopilot is engaged, the car reminds the driver to “Always keep your hands on the wheel. Be prepared to take over at any time.”

“The system also makes frequent checks to ensure that the driver's hands remain on the wheel and provides visual and audible alerts, if hands-on is not detected. It then gradually slows down the car until hands-on is detected again. We do this to ensure that every time the feature is used, it is used as safely as possible.”

The electric car company pointed out that “this is the first known fatality in just over 130 million miles    (21 crore km) where Autopilot was activated. Among all vehicles in the US, there is a fatality every 94 million miles (15.13 crore km). Worldwide, there is a fatality approximately every 60 million miles (9.66 crore km). As more real-world miles accumulate and the software logic accounts for increasingly rare events, the probability of injury will keep decreasing.”

Tesla paid tribute to the 40-year-old driver: “The customer who died in this crash had a loving family and we are beyond saddened by their loss. He was a friend to Tesla and the broader EV community, a person who spent his life focused on innovation and the promise of technology and who believed strongly in Tesla’s mission. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”