Tesla's FSD update silences steering wheel nag, cracks down on sunglasses loophole

Tesla's long-awaited Full Self-Driving (FSD) v12.4 update is finally rolling out, and it's not just silencing the infamous steering wheel nag, as CEO Elon Musk promised. The update also includes a significant upgrade to Tesla's driver monitoring system, which may have just put an end to the "sunglasses loophole."

For those unfamiliar with the Tesla vehicles, this refers to the alerts sent to drivers who aren't applying pressure on the steering wheel. Tesla's system, which lacks the ability to detect hands on the wheel, relies on torque to ensure drivers are actively engaged. This update aims to change that.

After releasing the v12.3 update only two months ago, with the v12.4 Tesla introduces a cabin camera-based driver monitoring system. When FSD is enabled, the system will primarily use the camera to gauge driver attentiveness. However, there's a catch: the camera must have a clear, unobstructed view of the driver's eyes. This means no sunglasses, hats with low brims, or other objects that could obscure the camera's view.

Tesla will revert to the combined torque and vision-based monitoring when the camera's view is compromised. The update also addresses concerns about driver privacy. Tesla assures users that cabin camera images remain within the vehicle and aren't saved or transmitted unless data sharing is enabled.

Beyond the driver monitoring system, Musk claims the v12.4 update will drastically reduce the frequency of driver interventions. While Tesla hasn't released data to support this claim, it's undoubtedly a bold statement that's sure to spark interest among Tesla enthusiasts and skeptics alike.

The update began rolling out to Tesla's internal fleet over the weekend, with a wider release expected this week. With the steering wheel nag removal and the sunglasses loophole crackdown, Tesla seems to be taking driver safety a bit more seriously, even as it slowly edges closer to full autonomy.

Via