Featured IIHS wants more nags

With rain predicted all day and three anxious dogs, we drove round trip, 240 miles to the Lauderdale Wildlife Refuge ... If Dogs Run Free. We drove to the other side of the front dumping rain on Huntsville:

If dogs run free, why not me
Across the front in time?
My mind weaves a symphony
And tapestry of rhyme
Oh, winds which rush my tale to thee
So it may flow and be
To each his own, it's all unknown
If dogs run free - (Bob Dylan)​

Full Self Driving did all but 40 yards of parking lot and charging lane choosing. This trip included some gnarly, single lane, bulldozer back roads that the Tesla handled very nicely. This included cresting ridges of a hollow where all you saw was sky because the hood blocked me from seeing the road (i.e., the illusion of driving off a cliff.) There was one heavy phantom break where there had been major road work dealing with a 12 ft shoulder. But otherwise, a fun trip to the nearest wildlife area.

The dogs thought the one lane, bulldozer path through the wild life area was like driving a car of 3 year olds through a candy factory. As for me, I was getting a first look at a public hunting areas for feral hogs. It is good to get away from civilization in a quiet, powerful, electric car. Yes, "I shall return."

We left about 10 AM and got back about 6 PM, calm, rested, and hungry for leftover pizza in the fridge. There were two SuperCharger bathroom breaks; the doggies got snack tins at one and; a free 10 minute L2 charge only to discover the nearby BBQ place had closed.

Bob Wilson

 

My car continues to drive while I chat in the call.

Bob Wilson

 

At less than half the size of deer, they dress out for a small freezer. Considered a pest, they are always in season because:

Feral swine damage pasture grasses, killing desired plant species and often encouraging the growth of undesired weed species. Feral swine will turn over sod and pasture, by rooting, to expose the tender roots of plants, grubs, and invertebrates which ultimately destroys the pasture.

Impact. Wild pigs impact ecosystems through their rooting, wallowing, foraging, and hunting, with a conservative annual estimate of $1.5 billion in economic damage nationally to agriculture and the environment.

Feral swine directly impact native game species by preying on the nests, eggs, and young of ground-nesting birds and the young of larger animals such as deer. They compete with native wildlife for important food sources, displace other animals through aggression and competition, and can spread diseases and parasites.

You may be at risk for brucellosis if infected hog tissue, blood or fluid, comes into contact with your eyes, nose, mouth or a skin cut. You can get sick when field dressing an infected hog or when butchering or eating undercooked meat.​

A meat hunter, I eat the well cooked, game I shoot. Unlike deer, feral hogs are close to the ground, often in hollows, which minimizes down range risks. I've had venison from relatives and never developed a taste for it. Field dressed, the carcass will be easily totable.

The public hunting areas are in Tesla, full self driving range. Going to the public area is easy but headed home after a day in the bush, Full Self Driving will save the day and meat.

Bob Wilson

 

Going back to the technical aspects, a compare and contrast new HW4 and now legacy HW3:

Executive summary:

• Media control unit - not discussed in detail
  • Gateway for remote access and download
• Autopilot / FSD computer - dual processors
  • Neutral net processors +50% larger and more, smaller sub processors
• Nearly double the board area over HW 3
  • Format change - unable to upgrade my older Tesla
• Liquid cooled (as are strong computers)
  • Cooling lines are not even close
• Buck converters for board power handle 6 to 100 VDC
  • HW 3 designed for nominal 16 VDC power
• 12 camera inputs HW 4
  • 9 camera inputs HW 3
• 5 mega pixel cameras
  • 1.2 mega pixel cameras
• 360 degree camera view removed ultrasonic sensors
  • my legacy HW 3 still requires all ultrasonic sensors to work

Following past practices, my 2019 Tesla has about 18-24 months before "End of Life" becomes an issue. There will come a time when newer and improved functions won't be available from my car. By then, the car will be fully depreciated and should enter the "first car for kids" pool.

Bob Wilson