Posted on 02/11/2020 12:46:20 PM PST by BenLurkin
An Apple engineer who died when his Tesla Model X hit a concrete barrier on a Silicon Valley freeway had complained before his death that the SUV’s Autopilot system would malfunction in the area where the crash happened.
The documents say Huang told his wife that Autopilot had previously veered his SUV toward the same barrier on U.S. 101 near Mountain View, California where he later crashed. Huang died at a hospital from his injuries. “Walter said the car would veer toward the barrier in the mornings when he went to work,” the Huang family’s attorney wrote in a response to NTSB questions.
Huang also described Autopilot’s malfunctioning to his brother, the attorney wrote, in addition to talking with a friend who owns a Model X. Huang, a software engineer, discussed with the friend how a patch to the Autopilot software affected its performance and made the Model X veer, the lawyer’s response said.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
The only reason I go to PTs and spend a year recovering is so I can go do that again:) (from another grampa)
PRECISELY!!! No fool like an educated fool!
When a car pulls into your blindspot, a very bright yellow triangle comes on in the side mirror on that side of the Jeep - so bright and visible that its appearance is quite discernible in your peripheral vision. You don't even need to turn your head and look in the mirror to see it.
The first week or two I had the vehicle, it scared me when it came on. Bright yellow warning triangles are rarely a good sign, and any unexpected light coming on by itself in any vehicle usually does not bode well.
After I got used to it and instantly recognized it for what it was, it became a "neat," feature. When passing or being passed, I would note when and where it came on in relation to the other vehicle, and when it went off. As a "blind spot" sensor, it is very accurate and reliable. At this point, all was good and it worked very much as the designers intended it to.
Then it caused me to become complacent. I found that I had been trained to NOT even bother attempting a lane change as long as that yellow glow was there in my peripheral vision. Somehow this subconsciously wired my brain to equate the absence of a yellow glow with the ok to change lanes.
The problem with that is, just because a vehicle was not in my blind spot didn't mean there wasn't actually an oncoming car visible in my rear view mirror! I found that I was not checking the mirror, I was just subconsciously noting if the blind spot sensor was lit up or not. A few times I would hit my turn signal to change lanes, and start to move over when I'd hear a horn. If only I had looked in my rear view, I would have seen the vehicle as it was approaching, but had not yet entered my blind spot.
I had to entirely retrain myself to adapt to this "safety" feature that I'd allowed to train me...
Lure you into a sense of complacency. All that’s left is the screams, the burning and the dying.
Not always. As I understand it, when autopiloting, the car periodically nags you and requires you to touch the steering wheel. If you don't, the autopilot eventually shuts off and can't be restarted until the car is parked and restarted.
Many Tesla owners have found ways to defeat the nag, some use purchased devices, some use DIY hacks.
So, at that point, those Tesla drivers (or more correctly, occupants) are no longer driving and by their actions are deliberately creating a danger for themselves and other drivers on the road.
Thanks for your service. I love working on cars, except the daily drivers, which is all we have now. If you try to do anything on a week night and it goes south, you’re either up late, without a car the next day, or both.
Weekends aren’t that much better if you need something that the parts stores dont carry.
Typically I either have to meticulously plan and buy a bunch of parts I might need, or take it apart, figure out what’s wrong, then put it all back together in the same condition and put the repair off until I have what I need.
Either have to waste money or time or both.
It’s still cheaper than a dealer and most mechanics. But I hate the stress of having a hard deadline. Takes all the fun out of it, especially if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Wife’s car is a 2013. Other than when the trans went (under warranty thank goodness) I’ve been able to keep it on the road myself. Mines an 01 which is actually not bad to work on still.
People didn't believe him so he took a video to show them? If the video doesn't convince them, maybe his funeral will do the job.
“Not always. As I understand it, when autopiloting, the car periodically nags you and requires you to touch the steering wheel. “
That is telling you that you are not complying with the requirement to remain the driver.
The driver drives the car.
“and any unexpected light coming on”
If it comes on unexpectedly, you are not maintaining awareness of your surroundings.
Not ready for prime time.
You can be aware of a car entering you're blindspot, and the light is still unexpected when the car is new and you forgot you have a blind spot sensor.
But thanks for the lecture.
Cars name was Christine.
apple engineer takes bite out of engineered wall...
news at 11...
Umm. Hmmmm. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice - OUCH.
“You can be aware of a car entering you’re blindspot, and the light is still unexpected when the car is new and you forgot you have a blind spot sensor.
But thanks for the lecture. “
After a few days the car will no longer be new!
My Expedition veers toward estate sales and antique shops.
:-)
OK. The car has many cameras and object recognition, so it probably caught a glimpse of one of those Tesla Charge Station signs (see post 71) in that area, needed a jolt and went for it.
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