Safety in autonomous driving has once again been a topic of concern in the United States, where federal authorities have set their sights on one of the most advanced and controversial programs on the automobile market: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD).
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation after four recent accidents linked to the use of this system, including one that resulted in the death of a pedestrian.
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These incidents occurred under circumstances of reduced visibility, such as fog, dust, or sun glare, conditions that appeared to affect the performance of the FSD system.
Despite warnings about the need for drivers to remain alert, the technology has been involved in situations where the machine was unable to react appropriately.
In one of the cases investigated, the car, with the system activated, failed to avoid hitting a person, which has generated a renewed debate about the reliability and limits of self-driving.
Investigations that rise in tone
The NHTSA, in charge of ensuring road safety in the United States, has indicated that One of the key points of the investigation will be to determine if Tesla’s autonomous system has flaws in detecting situations where the technology must automatically disconnect.allowing the driver to take complete control.
Although Full Self-Driving is presented as an advanced assistance solution, its limitations in complex environments, such as adverse weather conditions, have generated controversies, which add to the long list of challenges that autonomous driving faces globally.
The interest of the US authorities is not new. Since its implementation, the FSD and its predecessor, Autopilothave been the subject of numerous criticisms and regulations due to a series of serious accidents, some fatal.
The promise of fully autonomous vehicles is still far from being fulfilled, calling into question the message Tesla has been conveying about their capabilities.
Proponents of autonomous driving argue that the technology is in the development phase, but detractors point out that the risks to users and the public are too high at this stage of development.
The global context and challenges in China
While Tesla faces problems in the United Statesits international ambitions also encounter barriers, especially in China.
The Chinese government has decided to delay the launch of the Full Self-Driving system in its marketciting concerns about data security and the accuracy of mapping used by Tesla’s self-driving vehicles.
Map recognition, essential for autonomous driving, has become a thorny issue in the Asian country, where authorities are strict with the collection and use of data.
Tesla had hoped to officially launch its robotaxis service in China, its second-largest market, in 2025.
However, despite advances in technology, no autonomous driving system has received the green light on the open roads of the Asian giant, not even from local manufacturers.
The wait is lengthening as Tesla continues to perfect its software, but regulatory difficulties could further delay its plans.
The unfulfilled promise of autonomous driving
Full Self-Driving has been one of Tesla’s great growth drivers in recent years. However, despite its ambitious name, the technology has not achieved the level of total autonomy that many expected.
Today, drivers must remain attentive behind the wheel and be prepared to intervene at any time. This has created a disconnect between public expectations and technical reality.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has repeatedly reiterated his optimism about advances in artificial intelligence that will allow true driving without human intervention.
Nevertheless, the numerous incidents and investigations that they face in several countries suggest that the path towards that vision is more complicated than expected.
In the United States, Tesla has already had to face several lawsuits and out-of-court settlements related to accidents. In 2018, a Model X driver died when his vehicle crashed in Silicon Valley while using Autopilot.
The company reached a settlement with the family in April of this year, underscoring the legal risks facing the automaker.
Problems with technology and calls for review
In 2022, tesla was forced to withdraw more than 360,000 vehicles equipped with FSD Beta technologyand throughout its history, it has had to service more than two million cars for problems related to the Autopilot software.
These measures have been seen by some as a sign that the technology is not ready for mass use, while others argue that they are necessary steps in the development of disruptive innovation.
The future of autonomous driving appears to depend on both technological advances and government regulation.
Ongoing investigations will determine whether Tesla’s FSD will be able to overcome current challenges and establish itself as a reliable option in the global market, or whether it will continue to face obstacles due to security and perceived failures in its operation.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system remains an ambitious promise, but its implementation is fraught with both technological and regulatory challenges.
The investigations in USA and difficulties in key markets such as China They call into question the short-term future of this technology. Meanwhile, safety remains the priority, and regulatory bodies will not give up until the guarantees are absolute.