FSD and winter weather

[Ziggy Stardust]

OK time for another question I am curious about and cannot find the answer looking.

I know that FSD relies on the camera's working to run and if one or more cannot function right FSD will not work and you have to take over driving.

I know the robotaxi they are testing here in the Austin area are the same type system and when the weather gets bad they shut down or reduce the number not that there are a ton of them anyway (Last I read it is about 50 total) and are geofenced to a small portion of Austin downtown. They also have a monitor following as a safety monitor in another car. Not sure how that is cost effective and why not just keep them in the robotaxi like they have been.

So what is Telsa's solution to relying only on camera's when the weather is bad and slush or fog is bad? If they rely on camera's only and you are in a robotaxi and one or more of the camera's get unreadable to FSD what is the person in the taxi to do? How will this system function in a town like Buffalo NY or other winter weather area 100% of the time?

At least you all in a CT if the camera's stop working fully you can always drive and take over.

Would it not make sense to have radar or another system work in conjunction with the camera's.

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[Ziggy Stardust]

Wow a whole day and not one reply to a real question. Guess the winter weather has got you all in a sleepy mood.

 

[CyberSav]

Latest Robotaxi Model Ys now have camera washers for the side cameras and rear camera.

 

[M0unt41nm4n]

So what is Telsa's solution to relying only on camera's when the weather is bad and slush or fog is bad?

Pull over and wipe them down. That’s what I do.

 

[tingmo13]

while back FSD does not even function on snow-take over alert pops up & now it plows! The latest Robotaxi MY have camera spray washer. Hence, I'm waiting for Tesla with AI5.

 

[MetroWestMA]

I was in Rochester (Buffalo) NY for a business trip all week with my beast. FSD actually handles snow and snowy roads much better than I would have expected. The biggest problem is salty slushy road crap that sprays on the front cameras. The side and read cameras seem pretty protected.

I would say the "mono-wiper" does a horrible job keeping that salty road crap off the windshield and camera area in 10 degree weather, that's more of an issue than FSD.

Even when the cameras are pretty blurry, FSD keeps going longer than I would have expected.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Thank you for the responses and glad to hear you did not have a hard time in Buffalo MetroWestMA.

I am sure the CT can handle the snow pretty well just was wondering if FSD is still really reliable with the slush and road salt or brine getting on the camera's.

That is why I am not sure about the robotaxi as even with a spray wiper I wonder if it will ever be 100% safe in places like Buffalo or Albany.

You all be safe and remember to always keep sentry mode on. There are still some real jerks out there.

 

[Beetlebug62]

The Robotaxis with washers on the fender cams and rear cam are currently being tested in Alaska.

 

[HaulingAss]

That is why I am not sure about the robotaxi as even with a spray wiper I wonder if it will ever be 100% safe in places like Buffalo or Albany.

What do you mean "100% safe"?

We don't live in a world that is 100% safe. Human drivers cause over a million deaths every single year (not counting those who die early because of exhaust emissions). Human drivers are not even close to 100% safety level and the death rate rises dramatically in areas that have winter weather. Many human drivers refuse to drive as soon as the road gets snowy/icy. Those who continue to drive cause an increase in winter accidents and deaths.

Autonomously driven vehicles will actually reduce the death rate in both the summer and the winter. But no transportation system is 100% safe. I'm not sure if you are that misinformed or just trying to throw shade again.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I do not try and cause trouble you should now that HaulingAss. Was a question I had with the weather we are having now in Texas and the US. I do try and look up info first and that is why I knew that if a camera(s) stopped working FSD would disengage.

I was just wondering about Robotaxi's mostly as the goal is to have them with no drivers. I know nothing is 100% and was just using that number as a thought.

You are right there are 100's if not upper 100's of accidents each day by human drivers.

 

[CyberGus]

Neither radar nor lidar will help if the cameras are obscured.

The best drivers in the world are still helpless if they drive on black ice, or in white-out visibility loss, or other adverse conditions.

Where’s my LEOs at? There are ample instances of stuck or wrecked cars in weather that is unsafe. Robocars will rightfully refuse to take that risk.

Humans suck at risk assessment and odds. They confidently buy lotto tickets with 150m odds against, but when there a 10% chance of being killed they think “cool, 9 other people will die before I gotta worry”

 

[cybertrout]

If it’s below freezing, and there’s salty wet slush being sprayed up from other vehicles, FSD will kick me out because the cameras get covered. You can’t just pull over on the highway to clean the cameras. Also, when salt spray gets on the front windshield, the wiper just smears the salt and crud all over the window. It’s not a great system for winter weather in the northeast.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

Pull over and wipe them down. That’s what I do.

Be ready to pull over every 60 seconds in a true winter weather area.

AKA - FSD with the current hardware will not work in certain cities. If the cameras become self cleaning on the whole fleet this will change.

 

[M0unt41nm4n]

Be ready to pull over every 60 seconds in a true winter weather area.

AKA - FSD with the current hardware will not work in certain cities. If the cameras become self cleaning on the whole fleet this will change.

I live in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. I think that qualifies for "true winter" Check attached photo my true winter.

I pull over once or twice on a long trip. My trip 2 weeks ago to Albuquerque was in 4-6" of snow from Durango to Cuba, NM. It had magchloride everywhere. I used FSD most of the way and only cleaned the right camera when it squaked at me once to clean the right camera.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

I live in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. I think that qualifies for "true winter" Check attached photo my true winter.

I pull over once or twice on a long trip. My trip 2 weeks ago to Albuquerque was in 4-6" of snow from Durango to Cuba, NM. It had magchloride everywhere. I used FSD most of the way and only cleaned the right camera when it squaked at me once to clean the right camera.

I am not sure what magical cameras you are using, 4 of the 6 cameras on my truck are completely blocked within minutes of winter driving. I keep lense wipes in my truck to clean the salt off of the front side cameras, sometimes it is so thick after a drive I need to use two wipes per camera.

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