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Featured Safest SUV Ever Tested by NHTSA

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by hill, Jun 17, 2017.

  1. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    I should clarify two things:

    First, although I haven't read the "official" report, I have read several other reports on the event and subsequent investigation, and yes, they seem to make a plausible case that, sadly, the driver should have had no problem avoiding the accident.

    Second, I'm asking about why radar didn't trigger an emergency brake much more from an engineering-design perspective than from a lawyeristic whom-to-blame perspective.


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  2. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    The answer is the software at the time required seeing something visually on the cameras to confirm the object on the radar. IMHO this was a design defect, one of many in a new system. It expected the driver would see something and brake if the camera was wrong, and didn't want to brake if the driver didn't want to with no visual confirmation.

    They quickly changed this software after learning about this accident.
    They also made changes to the hardware for new cars. They also have the software brake from the radar, even if the driver doesn't have autopilot on.
    A look at Tesla’s new Autopilot hardware suite: 8 cameras, 1 radar, ultrasonics & new supercomputer | Electrek
     
  3. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    As I recall, emergency braking wasn't really part of AutoPilot 1 itself, but was a largely separate module purchased from MobilEye, and it's much more tightly integrated under AutoPilot 2.


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  4. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    In any case, it was not active during the crash. It was before end of 2016 in autopilot 1 based hardware cars.

    Autopilot 2 cars just got AEB in April, and it does not yet work at higher speeds. This uses a better better and longer range camera, longer range radar, and sonar, as well as nvidia instead of mobileye chips. Tesla is involved in a lawsuit about allowing a driver to override AEB. Its kind of crazy. Here is about the AEB rollout to autopilot 2 hardware.
    Tesla Reintroduces Automatic Emergency Braking (Hardware 2.0 Vehicles) | CleanTechnica
     
  5. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Send the audio alert and after 5-10 seconds, start decrementing the cruise control speed and move to the right. Call it the 'dead man' maneuver.

    Bob Wilson
     
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  6. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Even slowing the vehicle down by about 20% should be enough to make someone grab the wheel. Also, escalating volume and shrillness of the warning sounds would help.
     
  7. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    The Tesla software dude in charge of Auto E braking & autopilot 2 was just replaced yesterday - and it appears his replacement arrived just before he left ;

    Tesla Autopilot: head of software Chris Lattner leaves, Tesla hires new head of AI and computer vision | Electrek

    iirc, he (Chris Lattner) originally came from Apple, where software goes through a ton of stuff before being released. I guess tesla/they weren't willing to wait that long - to get model 3 safety features, & the existing AP2 up to a higher level of performance.
    .
     
    #27 hill, Jun 22, 2017
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2017
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    tesla on dos?:eek:
     
  9. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Berkshire Hathaway owns Nebraska Furniture Mart which is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, furniture company in the world. Their in house sales software is all on old-school green and black DOS.
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    probably better than windows 10.:cool:
     
  11. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i hope tesla didn't make a mistake getting rid of the bad apple.
     
  13. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    I've never bought a PC for my own use, but use them at work - both Linux and Winders.

    I did Atari STs for a few years in the mid-late 80s, but all Macs since an SE30.


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  14. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    Lets not let this thread evolve into a "my IT or comm platform is better than yours" please.
     
  15. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    This might not be as far off topic as some above - & the story isn't too many days old ~
    "Wrong-Way Driver Killed"
    [​IMG]
    Very sorry for the driver"s family.
    I hope for myself, family, & everyone - to never be involved in a head-on,
    & ... glad that "she -must-be-obeyed" got her dream car - regardless of its warts.
    EDIT;
    MX driver suffered injury but it was non-life threatening. No word yet as to whether drugs/alcohol were involved - only that the victim was a 29yr old male.
    .
     
    #35 hill, Jul 29, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2017
  16. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Edit;
    Crash above was the dreaded frontal offset. However the Ford Fusion, definitely not a small car, didn't even look like a car after all was said and done.
    .
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    who was going the wrong way? we just had one last night.
     
  18. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    The Ford. There were multiple 9-1-1 calls prior to the Ultimate Collision. Model X driver was released from the hospital same day.
    .
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i've actually experienced that at least once on the highway. it's a shocking sight, just the car coming the wrong way. never seen an accident, thankfully.
     
  20. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    A good reminder that any direct accident above 45mph is going to be deadly 9 out of 10 times.

    We are fools to believe our little tin cans will keep us safe at highway speeds,
    there is no substitute for a safe driver
     
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