Tesla's Leap Forward with Actually Smart Summon (ASS): A New Era in Autonomous Driving
In the ever-evolving landscape of automotive technology, Tesla has once again pushed the boundaries with the introduction of Actually Smart Summon (A.S.S.) through its latest software update, 2024.27.20.
This feature, which has been eagerly anticipated by Tesla enthusiasts and tech aficionados alike, marks a significant milestone in the journey towards fully autonomous vehicles. Here's an in-depth look at what A.S.S. entails, its implications, and how it's being received by the public.
What is Actually Smart Summon?
Actually Smart Summon allows Tesla owners to summon their vehicle from a parking spot to a designated location without anyone inside the car.
This functionality, controlled via the Tesla mobile app, requires the owner to maintain supervision through a live camera feed, ensuring they can intervene if necessary. The feature operates in two primary modes:
- Come To Me: Where the vehicle navigates to the owner's current location.
- Go To Target: Here, the owner sets a specific destination for the car to drive to, autonomously.
Actually Smart Summon w/ HW3 - tested at COSTCO pic.twitter.com/BQt49G2Taw
— ⚡️TechGeek Tesla 🔋⚡️ (@jonbbc) September 4, 2024
This advancement is not just about convenience; it's a step towards realizing Tesla's vision of a fully autonomous vehicle fleet, where cars can operate independently for short distances, like navigating parking lots or picking up passengers.
Public Reaction and Video Evidence
The release of A.S.S has sparked a wave of excitement across social platforms, with numerous videos showcasing Tesla vehicles driving autonomously to their owners.
These videos, shared widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), depict Tesla models like the Model 3 and Model Y executing complex maneuvers, such as navigating roundabouts or weaving through parking lots, all without a driver.
These visual demonstrations not only serve as proof of concept but also highlight the public's fascination and sometimes skepticism with this new technology.
Technical Insights and Limitations
While A.S.S. represents a leap forward, it's not without its caveats. The technology requires the vehicle to be within a certain range of the owner's smartphone, and the owner must keep a finger on the app's screen to maintain the vehicle's movement.
This continuous interaction is designed for safety, allowing immediate stop commands if something goes awry. However, this also limits the practical utility of A.S.S., as true autonomy would imply no need for human intervention.
The Broader Impact
The introduction of A.S.S. could have broader implications beyond just convenience. For Tesla, it's a crucial step in refining their Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. Each use of ASS in real-world scenarios feeds data back into Tesla's neural network, potentially improving future iterations of autonomous driving software.
For consumers, it's a glimpse into a future where cars could perform errands or manage themselves in scenarios like airport pickups or drop-offs.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite the excitement, ASS brings to light several considerations:
the future is here pic.twitter.com/pS9nkHXzZC
— ΛI DRIVR (@AIDRIVR) September 3, 2024
- Safety: While the technology is impressive, the responsibility remains with the owner, who must be vigilant. This raises questions about liability in case of accidents.
- Regulation: Autonomous driving features like ASS tread into new legal territories, where regulations might lag behind technology.
- Public Perception: Videos of "driverless" cars navigating public spaces could either inspire awe or concern, influencing public and regulatory acceptance of autonomous vehicles.
- Hardware 4 Only Right Now: It also appears that this is only for hardware 4, or newer Tesla vehicles. Expect it to release to hardware 3, or older Tesla vehicles over the coming weeks.
- UPDATE! It's now out for Hardware 3!
Tesla's Actually Smart Summon is more than just a feature update; it's a statement of intent towards a future where cars do more than just drive—they think. While the current implementation has its limitations, it's a testament to Tesla's commitment to innovation.
As videos continue to circulate, showing Tesla vehicles seemingly driving themselves, the world watches, waits, and debates the future of transportation.
Whether A.S.S. becomes a common sight or remains a niche feature, it undeniably pushes the conversation forward on what's possible in automotive technology.
What do you think about Tesla Actual Smart Summon? Is this the beginning of driverless Tesla vehicles?
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Hi! I'm Jeremy Noel Johnson, and I am a Tesla investor and supporter and own a 2022 Model 3 RWD EV and I don't have range anxiety :). I enjoy bringing you breaking Tesla news as well as anything about Tesla or other EV companies I can find, like Aptera. Other interests of mine are AI, Tesla Energy and the Tesla Bot! You can follow me on X.COM or LinkedIn to stay in touch and follow my Tesla and EV news coverage.
Image Credit: Tesla, Screenshot
Article Reference: Tesla