Automotive School Students Want to Know: Will Tesla’s FSD Ever Work?
Tesla is known for revolutionizing the electric vehicle industry by integrating technology that seems as though it comes from a sci-fi movie. Its FSD feature is an excellent example of this. FSD stands for full self-driving, and the objective is to provide drivers with an entirely hand-off experience. Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted that there would be a million self-driving robotaxis on the road by 2020. Though Tesla started its FSD beta program in October of 2020 with an optimistic outlook, now, two years later, FSD is still in beta, and those robotaxis are nowhere to be found.
With mixed reactions from the public and a significant delay in their plans, many car buffs have been left wondering whether Tesla will pull through and deliver a functioning FSD feature that drivers can trust. Keep reading to learn about the controversy surrounding FSD technology, why there’s still hope, and how self-driving tech matters to future automotive professionals like you.
Tesla’s FSD Has a Controversial Past
As exciting as a full self-driving feature sounds, industry leaders and drivers are primarily concerned with safety, and Tesla has seen some controversy regarding its autonomous driving technology. For example, there have been several accidents leading to a class action lawsuit in the past due to claims of deceptive advertising.
Tesla’s Autopilot, a semi-autonomous driving feature, had many drivers confused–likely due to the name, which suggests a fully hands-off experience. Tesla certainly has a long way to go, but could there be hope on the horizon?
Tesla’s Newest Dojo Supercomputer Could Change the Game for FSD
In late 2022, Tesla’s Dojo Supercomputer was released. It is a custom platform built from the ground up using AI machine learning. The new supercomputer is now known to be one of the most powerful of its kind. In fact, when it was released, it tripped the power grid in Palo Alto. The Dojo Supercomputer is particularly meant for video training. It uses video data from Tesla’s fleet of vehicles with the objective of elevating Tesla’s ability to train neural nets (a series of algorithms that mimic the function of a human brain).
The release of this advanced technology shows Tesla’s persistence. Full self-driving vehicles might be just around the corner, even if a bit later than the ambitious timeline. If you’re considering a career after auto mechanic school, you may be wondering how technologies like FSD might impact your work.
Why FSD and Similar Technologies Matter to Automotive School Students
In the past, Tesla has been notoriously difficult to work with when it comes to repairs. Drivers are fighting for their right to repair their vehicles through a third party instead of being forced to go to the manufacturer. Tesla has claimed to be addressing these issues.
After automotive school, you’ll want to be prepared to service high-tech vehicles like Tesla. As other automakers are experimenting with similar technologies, the demand for automotive technology skills will increase. Fortunately, we offer expert automotive instruction that leaves all of our graduates prepared to thrive in the automotive industry now and in the future.
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