Tesla has upgraded the quality of its side repeater cameras, as reported by multiple Full-Self Driving (FSD) beta testers. While the physical cameras remain unchanged, the Austin-based automaker has introduced software enhancements and boosted processing capabilities to provide a sharper and more refined visual experience.
Tesla employs a comprehensive camera setup, consisting of eight cameras, to create a detailed map of its surroundings, facilitating semi-autonomous driving features. Two of these cameras are strategically positioned on the front quarter panel, between the fenders and the doors.
One FSD beta tester, Chuck Coo, shared a comparison of footage between versions 11.4.6 and 11.4.7, particularly during nighttime driving conditions. Despite a slight graininess in the dark, the feed from the latest version demonstrates an improvement over its predecessor.
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Here is a Camera Analysis on FSDBeta v11.4.7 vs v11.4.6 at night time. I retrieved these clips from the dashcam. The locations and lighting are a bit different, but I think you can see there is additional processing being done. Enjoy @elonmusk @Tesla_AI pic.twitter.com/rTOdsVVNC0
— Chuck Cook (@chazman) August 26, 2023
Another user conducted a similar comparison and concluded that FSD beta version 11.4.7 exhibits superior image quality. Their analysis, illustrated through shared footage, revealed that version 11.4.6 had saturated and lower-quality visuals, while version 11.4.7 presented more natural colors, enhanced sharpness, and improved clarity.
It’s important to note that these vehicles are equipped with Hardware 3, which continues to play a pivotal role in data collection for Tesla’s neural network. This neural network is instrumental in training both Autopilot and Full-Self Driving systems to achieve greater accuracy.
Newer Tesla models are equipped with Hardware 4, boasting a more potent Samsung Exynos processor, improved frequency, the “Phoenix” radar, and higher-resolution 5-megapixel cameras, in contrast to the 1.2-megapixel units used in HW3.
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While Tesla began shipping vehicles with Hardware 4 this year, certain features, such as Autopilot and Full-Self Driving, were initially disabled. However, reports indicate that Tesla has commenced enabling FSD Beta on HW4-equipped vehicles.
Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, recently commented that the company’s current focus is on perfecting Full-Self Driving on HW3 vehicles worldwide. This concentrated effort may potentially impact the development timeline of HW4 by extending it for another six months. The enhancement in camera processing capabilities discussed above represents a step forward in Tesla’s ongoing pursuit of autonomous driving perfection.
