A longtime Tesla driver’s perspective on Full Self-Driving beta

Full Self-Driving Diary: A longtime Tesla driver’s perspective on FSD beta

Electrek.co by Chance Miller

[{"selector":"#anim-34ddb989-96a0-4da3-aa06-bdb3386f1467","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] After a month of safe and cautious driving, I finally achieved a Safety Score of 99 last week, and shortly thereafter, I was granted access to the Full Self-Driving Beta for my 2021 Model Y.

[{"selector":"#anim-52656088-c6cf-4f88-95b0-e04b3ac9903b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The experience with the FSD Beta over the last seven days has made a few things clear: it’s very much a beta, but it’s very, very impressive when it works.

[{"selector":"#anim-6ac9de3b-2f86-4759-9ffa-b19035b88457","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Radar vs. Tesla Vision I have a 2021 Tesla Model Y, which I took delivery of in December of 2020. Prior to that, I had a 2018 Model 3 – so I am well-versed in what it’s like driving with Autopilot, Navigate On Autopilot, and Autosteer.

[{"selector":"#anim-edc20097-c396-4748-a3d8-a0e8a33e4645","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] My Model Y is equipped with radar hardware, unlike more recent Tesla’s coming out of the factory.

[{"selector":"#anim-e4d08825-5fa3-4f06-853a-5d4f6184d064","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Until last week, my car was still using its radar hardware for Autopilot, but that changed when I enrolled in FSD last week.

[{"selector":"#anim-c3792828-9728-42f4-8c0b-089a94684f89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] When you enroll in FSD, Tesla transitions your entire car to Tesla Vision , which is its camera-based Autopilot system. This comes with its own fair share of bugs.

[{"selector":"#anim-b1d485b2-da83-4a5b-88ba-e3de58f12c17","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Every Tesla owner has likely experienced “phantom braking,” which is when your car slams on the brakes for no apparent reason on the highway.

[{"selector":"#anim-fa9c8539-4938-412a-9682-701dc8a802d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Unfortunately, this has become even more common since my car was transitioned entirely to Tesla Vision.

[{"selector":"#anim-032bb4b6-5bc3-4d0b-92b1-681777641968","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Read more about my experience with Tesla's Full Self Driving beta, including the good, the bad, and my wrap-up.