FSD Beta 12 and Tesla's "Meet the Engineers" Event
Elon Musk announced this week that all FSD-capable cars would now get a month of Full Self Driving. Let's dive in and discuss FSD, now in the Beta 12 version, which Elon calls "end-to-end AI." In a nice little bit of timing, I also had an opportunity to attend a "Meet the Engineers" event yesterday at Tesla, which expanded my knowledge of the software.
FSD: Not Perfect, But Evolving
Let's be clear: FSD Beta is a powerful Level 2 driver assistance system; but it still requires constant driver supervision. Tesla and Elon Musk are now calling FSD "Supervised Full-Self Driving." I like this name change. It more accurately describes what the car can actually do.
I found a bit of information on the new software from Tesla Motors Club: The key changes in this update include the adoption of an end-to-end neural network, replacing over 300,000 lines of explicit C++ code. This neural network, trained on millions of video clips of human driving, has resulted in a more intuitive and human-like driving experience. (Tesla Motors Club.)
My Experiences Using FSD This Past Week
I started using Beta Version 12 a few days before Elon's free offer, so I was a few days ahead of the crowds. We purchased our second Tesla last Thursday, and as a thank you, we received a boatload of free super charger miles and three months of FSD. The new software makes my husband nervous, but I find it... intriguing. And, now with Elon's new offer, I have four months of FSD.
Day One. Fail.
The first day was disappointing. The software downloaded on its own after we accepted our "referral bonus," (and I agreed to the many warnings telling me the software was in Beta and could kill me.) I was nervous and excited to watch this magic happen with my car. I entered an address ten miles away and waited for the magic to happen.
And, nothing happened. The car defaulted back to AutoPilot, meaning I had AutoSteer and Traffic Assist Cruise Control on the highway. But, no extra capabilities on city streets.
Summary: Day One. Fail.
Day Two Was "Terrifying."
To get ready for Day Two, I did my homework and re-read the Model 3 manual. Note: the web version of the manual only mentions AutoSteer/Autopilot. But, the Tesla phone app has a decently long section describing how to actually the Full Self-Driving software.
Before setting out on Day Two, I made sure I'd checked off and agreed to all of the boxes I needed to check off to use the software, (all of the "I know what Beta means" warnings.) After turning these warnings on and off a few times, it looked as if the software finally engaged properly, and I was ready to go.
I waited until I was out of my neighborhood and on a main street before attempting to launch the software.
And... it worked.
My screen transformed into a more detailed driving view. Nice! It didn't take me long to get to the highway onramp. I disengaged the software and decided I would get myself safely onto the highway on my own.
"Why Is it Hugging the Line?!"
Once safely on the highway, I re-engaged the software. I then started to notice a few quirks of the software.
FSD 12 Beta loves to hug the line to the left, especially when passing trucks. I get that the big trucks made the little car nervous, and there are a lot of big trucks on Highway 101. I don't understand why it doesn't center itself again after the truck passes. PTSD?
Being off-centered while driving is... maddening. It triggers my OCD. And, I am not the only one in Silicon Valley with rampant OCD, trust me. It is what makes this Valley great.
"Why Are We Turning Left?"
Coming home from the gym, I thought it might be safer to stay off the highway until my car stops hugging lines.
"OK, we will take the beautiful scenic backroads home."
I had a vision of the car driving me from the parking lot of the gym to my driveway at home. Keep dreaming.
FSD 12 Beta has a strange tendency to want to just "turn left."
Why? I don't know. Maybe left turns are fun?
Perhaps my Tesla was in the mood to go exploring? I disengaged AutoPilot and the software asked me to issue a bug report: "Captain's Log. Stardate 3.29.24. Observed strange behavior when vehicle was supposed to stay-the-course..."
"Are There No Traffic Circles in Palo Alto?"
My town is filled with traffic circles. Our city engineers are obsessed with them. If you like circles, you would love this town.
Those aliens who make the crop circles? They fly over our town at night and nod with approval. "Oh yes, this place."
While aliens might love all of our traffic circles, my Tesla with FSD Beta? Not so much.
It keeps trying to turn right everytime we enter a traffic circle.
Why? We just need to stay the course and follow the car in front of us. If we go left, we will end up at the golf course. I don't golf.
A minute later. Another traffic circle.
And, then, another...
I sent three bug reports to Tesla in two minutes. Is that a record?
Day Three. Why Do We Keep Changing Lanes?!
I was feeling well-rested and confident on day three. I'd also watched several hours of videos of other people driving the new software. If this car full of excited Japanese gentlemen can make it through a construction zone, I can handle FSD Beta on the highway.
And, then the lane changing started...
The car would warn me it was changing lanes to maintain speed. Zip. And, we passed a car.
And, then another.
And, then another.
All of the passing was legal and we were definitely making good time. It was just a more aggressive style than I usually drive on the highway. I find a good group of cars in the middle lane, set to the car to drive itself, and just stay there enjoying the ride. It's my peaceful, mellow time.
Beta 12 was turning my mellow time into Mario Kart. Not cool.
When I arrived at my destination, I dove into the Settings screen to see if I could make the car drive more like me. Turns out, there are settings to accomplish exactly this task. My driving style counts as "Chill" and I like "Minimal Lane Changes." With these settings, the software and I are very happy on the highway together.
Day Four. Ramps, Off-Ramps and Right on Red (Off the Ramp)
By day four, I felt like I was getting the hang of FSD Beta. I knew when to activate it, (NOT on our street with the little kids riding their scooters.) Yes, on the roads where it is okay for a Beta software to make mistakes.
I disengage the software whenever I think a situation might be too challenging, and it's better for the human to take over. Elon calls it "Supervised Full Self-Driving," so I'm supervising.
FSD Beta 12 recognizes when the highway exit for home is coming up, puts on a blinker, changes lane, slows down, puts on a blinker again, and makes it safely down the ramp. And, then it gets stuck. The light is usually red by the time we reach the bottom of the ramp, and the car won't make a right on red.
I was thrilled when the car recognized our exit was coming up on the highway, safely changed lanes, slowed down and navigated us off the ramp at a safe speed. (Earlier versions of AutoPilot tried to defy gravity on the highway ramps.)
We came down the ramp, gently slowed down and the car recognized the light was red. The blinker came on, acknowledging we needed to turn right.
And, we sat there.
Okay, my beautiful car, there's no one coming. Let's go.
Kudos to the car for playing it safe, but California drivers are not known for always being patient.
I look behind me a little nervous other people will be coming down the ramp."Oh, she must be trying out a beta software. We'll just wait behind her patiently." (Said no one ever.)
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I gently tapped the accelerator so we could proceed through the intersection.
The software disengaged and asked me to issue a bug report. OK, fine. It was my fifth bug report of the day. "Hi, it's me again. Just trying to get home..."
I Survived Week One, But I Had So Many Questions
I made it through my first week of FSD Beta, and I was intrigued, but I had so many questions. By way of happy coincidence, I was invited to a Tesla "Meet the Engineers" event on Saturday, (yesterday.) Perfect. I could ask all of my questions directly of the engineers. (Nerd Bonus: the Tesla Semi would be there.)
What I Learned at the Tesla "Meet the Engineers" Event
The engineer at our event was the systems engineer for the Tesla Semi. Very knowledgeable. She didn't, however, know about FSD 12 Beta.
"Try the Delivery Advisors."
I headed inside the service center, and as it turns, none of the delivery advisors knew about FSD. They're going to have learn. Elon just issued an edict that they need to take everyone on a test drive before delivering theirs cars.
“Going forward, it is mandatory in North America to install and activate FSD V12.3.1 and take customers on a short test ride before handing over the car,” Musk wrote in an email to staffers on Monday. “Almost no one actually realizes how well (supervised) FSD actually works. I know this will slow down the delivery process, but it is nonetheless a hard requirement.”
"Try the Service Technicians."
The Delivery Advisors pointed me to the Service Bay.
At this point, it was starting to feel like a quest. But, I was game.
I knew where to go, because I'd attended a "How to Maintain Your Tesla" event a few weeks back. I think Tesla is the only company that will teach you the skills so you can service your car yourself.
Back in the Service Bay, it's like the Maytag repairman commercial. Teslas are very reliable cars. The service team seemed excited to get a visit.
"Who can answer a question about FSD Beta 12?"
As it turned out, there was only person who knew the software well enough to answer questions- the Mobile Service Technician. I solved my quest! I can now level up.
Back to our adventure, I know the Mobile Service Technician. He comes by our house every few months to rotate our tires, (right in our driveway.) It's epic.
He uses the software when he's heading around town performing mobile service on the Teslas.
And, he did an awesome job answering my questions.
The rest of the mechanics were so amused, they gathered around to listen. Not like they were busy.
My FSD Questions Finally Answered
Q: Can you use FSD 12 Beta in the rain?
A: Yes, but the car will default to Autopilot-like behavior. In time, the system will learn to compensate for the reduced visibility from heavy rain. At this time, it cannot do so. However, you can still use the system, but with supervision. Always lots of supervision.
Q: Why does FSD 12 Beta keep wanting to turn left? I don't live that direction.
A: [laughs] It's a known quirk of the software. Just disengage and relaunch. It will correct itself. The software is very quickly learning and improving. With each iteration, it gets better.
Q: Why did FSD 12 Beta get stuck at the bottom of the off-ramp and disengage when I tried to proceed through the intersection?
A: Laws vary a great deal from state-to-state and even city-to-city on "right-on-red." The car may learn to handle these nuances in time, but for now, disengage and re-engage the software.
Q: Why does the car hug the line on the highway? It doesn't do that in AutoSteer.
A: It could be debris on the camera lens or a reflection from a nearby semi. The system is very sensitive to these distractions. In time, it should get better about compensating for distractions. For now, trying keep the cameras very clean.
Final Thoughts on FSD Beta 12:
I left confident I am doing everything right with FSD 12 Beta. The way I am driving the software is "the correct way." I disengage and re-engage often using my human judgement as to when it is time for me to take over.
Would I pay 12K for it? No. But, I am very happy to keep helping Tesla improve the software. If the price comes way down in the future, I would consider it, either as one lump sum, or a monthly subscription.
At this time, it's too expensive for a software with a lot of bugs. However, it's fun and it has potential to one day be very good.
Photos from The "Meet the Engineers Event"
Crafted by Diana Wolf Torres, a freelance writer, harnessing the combined power of human insight and AI innovation.
Stay Curious. Stay Informed. #DeepLearningDaily
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Additional Resources for Inquisitive Minds
Tesla starts using ‘Supervised Full Self-Driving’ language. electrek. Fred Lambert. March 28, 2024.
FSD v12 becomes Beta, Tesla releases version 12.1 to employees, it’s a completely new architecture, says Musk (Tesla Oracle)
Elon Musk Mandates Test Drives of Tesla’s Flawed Driving System. Bloomberg. (March 27, 2024.)
Elon Musk requires ‘FSD’ demo for every prospective Tesla buyer in North America. CNBC. (March 25, 2024.)
Writer | Editor of Deep Learning Daily | Silicon Valley-Based
8 个月OK, I'm adding one more item to the list of "quirks" on the current beta software: TRAFFIC LIGHT CREEPING FSD v12 is conservative in how it slows down for red lights. It tends to want to slow down farther back than a human would, seems to hesitate, and then tries again. It does manage to stop correctly for the red light. However, while waiting for the light to turn green, the vehicle starts to CREEP. It slowly starts to move forward. I can see where this behavior would be desirable when trying to see around a corner, or in certain parking lot situation. It is common then to "creep" forward. At a red light, no creeping is allowed. Hold still and wait for the light to turn green. I "tapped" out, issued a bug report, and decided the human would drive the rest of the way home. #FSDBeta #FSDBeta12 #FSDBetav12 #TeslaFSD