Tesla has announced the release of a new software update that activates its long-awaited vision-based park assist feature. The update, which has been highly anticipated by Tesla enthusiasts, will enable the company’s vehicles to estimate distances and provide park assist functions using the cameras installed in the car.
Last October, Tesla made the decision to remove ultrasonic sensors from its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. These sensors were used to detect objects at short-range, specifically during low-speed maneuvers such as parking. However, Tesla announced that it was moving towards a fully vision-based parking system to simplify the process and reduce the complexity of the cars’ technology.
As a result of this change, new Tesla vehicles were delivered without sensors and without the driver aids that had previously assisted with parking. However, with the release of the new software update, Tesla’s park assist, Autopark, Summon, and Smart Summon features will soon be available to all Tesla drivers.
The software update has been highly anticipated by Tesla fans, who have eagerly awaited the release of the vision-based park assist feature. Tesla owners should check for the new software update, version 2023.6.9, to take advantage of this exciting new development in the company’s technology.
The update notes state:
Tesla Vision Park Assist provides visual and audio alerts of surrounding objects. This feature uses the occupancy network to predict high-definition outlines of objects 360 degrees around the car.
Note: Tesla Vision Park Assist is for guidance purposes onlv and is not a substitute for an aware driver. Please be attentive and avoid obstacles as required.
The new software update released by Tesla only restores the lost functionality of providing drivers with information on their distance from various objects while parking. However, it does not activate Autopark, Summon, or Smart Summon features.
Several videos have surfaced on social media, showing drivers testing out the new functionality in their garages and driveways. The results have been inconsistent, with the feature working well in some situations and providing roughly similar graphics to those with sensors. Additionally, the updated feature can detect objects all around the vehicle, whereas the previous sensors only detected objects in front or behind.
One driver reported the measurements to be highly accurate while parking in a well-lit and straightforward parking lot.
Vision Park Assist measurement was surprisingly accurate in this case! Distance verified with tape measure @klwtts @WholeMarsBlog @itskyleconner @BeardedTesla @teslascope @NotATeslaApp pic.twitter.com/7j8eOlt66G
— kEV (@EVBaymax) March 24, 2023
The lines produced by the vision-based park assist system appear to be more wiggly than those produced by ultrasonic sensors.
However, the system still requires further refinement in some situations. In one video, a driver pulls between two cars and towards a trash can before the system deactivates, displaying a message stating “park assist unavailable” when the driver approaches close enough to require the feature. The driver then exits the car to compare the car’s 26-inch approximation with the actual distance, and estimates it to be closer to “three and a half, four feet” based on visual inspection.
Another driver attempted to use the vision-based park assist feature with a bike rack attached to the rear of their Tesla. However, the system continuously detected the rack as an obstruction, repeatedly instructing the driver to stop even though there was plenty of room behind the car.
@Tesla vision USS parking does not like my bike rack. pic.twitter.com/PHCgyFvW51
— Alex Klimaj (@ArkElectron) March 24, 2023
