Tesla electric cars are a little closer to behave themselves – World

 11:07 a.m.
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 AFP .-

The manufacturer of high-end electric vehicles Tesla took an important step towards the development of automobiles self installing this Thursday a new software that allows, among other applications, re-route or activate the brakes automatically.

“We are being particularly cautious at this stage so advise drivers to keep their hands on the wheel case “said the founder and CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk.

” In the long term, people will not have to put your hands on the wheel and eventually there will be flyers or pedals “simply will indicate the destination to the car and this will lead, predicted Musk told reporters.

For now, the system Tesla named ” Autopilot “ has more modest applications : combined GPS and a radar system, captors ultrasound and cameras installed by the company in its vehicles since about a year ago, you can keep the car on a path or switch to another by simply pressing a button, you can adapt the speed and avoid collisions from the front and on the sides or off the road.

However, not recognize the color of traffic lights , but can warn motorists when there is a free parking spot and parallel park.

The new software “Version 7.0″, presented on Wednesday, began to be installed as an automatic update in North America in saloons (four side doors) Model S, Tesla the 11,580 units sold worldwide in the third quarter.

From next week must reach Europe and Asia, when I attain the necessary permits.

“ cars without driver really still be delayed a few years ” admitted Tesla in a message on its website, announcing the software update, which compares it to the autopilot systems of the aircraft.

The program will also be in the Model X SUV brand, the company launched a few weeks ago, in limited volumes for now.

Vehicle owners should anyway pay $ 2,500 for activating the automatic pilot, at the time of purchase or later.

The driver remains responsible

The autonomous vehicles, without driver, are a segment that inspires much . Most automakers are working on the issue, as well as technological large groups.

Among the most successful prototypes presented so far are the “Google Car” that US Internet giant Alphabet and circulated in several US states, or a futuristic Mercedes allowed to sit with his back to the route, presented in January by the German automotive group Daimler in the CES Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

However, the current regulations do not allow the circulation of fully autonomous cars , without a person behind the wheel. Pending the legislation-and consumers-suit, slowly they are introduced new technologies in commercial motor in the form of speed governors, parking assistance systems or driving in a traffic jam, for example .

Elon Musk anyway stressed Wednesday that Tesla differs from the proposals of the other manufacturers because operated its entire fleet equipped “as a network: when a car learns something, all cars do. ” He thus imagined a system capable of improving with the passing of time thanks to a “machine learning.”

According to Tesla, the Autopilot was tested for over a year does, and Musk He said that works especially well when heavy traffic. “We intend that the vehicle behaves (…) as a very good driver,” nor too careful in relation to other vehicles, not too aggressive, he said.

Anyway, clarified that this is a “beta” (provisional) version and called for users to use it wisely. “If there is an accident the driver of the car is responsible,” so you should be able to regain control at all times, he said.