Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature is arguably the most sought-after upgrade on electric vehicles (EV), but it is also riddled with controversy after allegedly causing deadly car crashes as of late.
Another controversy is about to get uncovered after a demonstration shows how easy it is to trick the EV autopilot feature into activating without someone sitting on the driver's seat.
EV fans must be warned that this simple hack is not recommended to ensure the driver and passengers' safety.
The Tesla Full Self-Driving Hack: How to Activate the Feature Remotely
After reports of death involving Tesla's autopilot feature, engineers from Consumer Reports tested if it is possible to trick the FSD activate without its driver and had successfully done so by using a weight.
According to their report on Thursday, Apr. 22, their experiment did not only prove that the FSD failed to detect if the driver is paying attention, but it also cannot detect if the driver is present at all.
"Tesla is falling behind other automakers like GM and Ford that, on models with advanced driver assist systems, use technology to make sure the driver is looking at the road," said Consumer Reports senior director of auto testing, Jake Fisher.
Fisher, who led the demonstration, engaged the Autopilot feature while their Tesla Model Y was running, and then brought it to a complete stop before hooking up enough weight on the steering wheel to simulate the weight of a driver's hand.
He then slid away from the driver's seat without opening any of the EV's doors to avoid disengaging the Autopilot feature and used the steering wheel dial to accelerate and stop the vehicle's speed.
"The car drove up and down the half-mile lane of our track, repeatedly, never noting that no one was in the driver's seat, never noting that there was no one touching the steering wheel, never noting there was no weight on the seat," Fisher exclaimed.
He warned that their team was able to perform the experiment on a private track, and under any circumstances should not be replicated in the real-world setting.
Also Read: Elon Musk Claims Tesla Autopilot Now 10x More Efficient, But Analysts Say There's Still a Flaw
Tesla's FSD Controversy
Following the crash in Houston involving a Tesla Model S that killed two passengers, critics are quick to point out that self-driving cars are still far from reality.
Fisher was one of those critics, who quickly pointed that there are no self-driving cars, despite what Tesla has advertised.
Moreover, Elon Musk's claims that the crash yielded no FSD data did not stop the Texas police to demand the tech CEO to turn over the FSD data from the fatal crash.
Harris County Constable Precinct 4's Mark Herman told Reuters on Apr. 20 that if Musk was able to tweet about the FSD's lack of role in the crash, then the data should already be on his hands.
Related Article: Tesla Model S Plaid to Have 5x Faster Charging With Hybrid Supercapacitor, But It Has a Downside
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Leigh Mercer
