Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta has now been updated 8 times since its launch back in October. The latest software version for FSD Beta is 2020.48.12.15, which is slightly on a different version path from the 2020.48.26 Holiday Update.
The Dual-Motor Tesla Model S with the license plate shouting AIDRIVR has the privilege of being one of the few out there selected by Tesla for FSD Beta testing. In the following video, the owner and driver of this unique Model S takes his car for checking FSD Beta performance out in the snow.
The Tesla Model S in this video is equipped with summer-focused all-season tires, so traction and handling could’ve been better with the winter tires. Tesla’s online shop offers winter wheels and tire packages for the entire vehicle lineup. The Tesla Model S 19″ slipstream winter wheel and tire package range from $2,500 to $4,000. This Model S package includes the 4 x 245/45/19 – Pirelli Sottozero 3 tires.
In the newer Teslas, the Autopilot cameras are heated, so there is a lower probability of the car’s vision becoming blurred due to snow accumulation.
In a snowy parking lot
FSD Beta 8 in this series of tests is first evaluated in an almost empty parking lot with lots of snow. In the beginning, the car refuses to engage Autopilot because of invisible road markings. Even when it accepts to be engaged in this snow-filled space, it gets confused and the driving is jerky, at last, it asks the driver to take over and disengages and comes to a full stop when not taken over.
Related: FSD Beta 7 test videos in different scenarios.
On the snowy roads
In the next phase, the driver puts FSD Beta on a snowy road to test if it works properly. Lane markings are pretty abrupt even after the heavy snowfall is cleared from the road. Lower grip because of non-winter tires is also a limiting factor here, Autopilot might handover the car to the driver if it feels the slippery situation is not safe.
At the start of the test, Autopilot was able to predict the drivable space but on its own, it was following the posted speed limit of 30 mph. The cruise speed limit then was set to 15 mph manually, in order to be on the safe side in these snowy conditions.
In the drive ahead, the driver had to take over a couple of times, otherwise Tesla Autopilot was able to handle the path pretty well.
By watching the video closely and from the driver’s feedback it can be easily said that Tesla Autopilot (FSD Beta) is not yet ready for snowy conditions. It will be a while before Autopilot fully learns snow and the scenarios it puts in front of a car driver. However, the video is still fun to watch and I like the owner’s commentary as he has a good grip on the topic of FSD testing.
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