This Guy & His Ultrasonic Sonar Electric Car Are Freakin' Awesome--Not To Mention Changing The Face of Driving

Last Thursday, Elon Musk of Tesla held a product launch, during which he announced the dual-motor, all-wheel driver versions of its Model S sedans. Apart from the fastest model being able to race from 0 to 60 miles per hour at a whiplashed 3.2 seconds (indeed putting it in a class with the fastest production cars on the road), and other amazing features such as all-wheel drive that is dual-motor driven (hence the D-Series), thus transferring power seamlessly between front and rear axles that gives the car not only better handling but also higher top speed. 

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, announcing new AWD Tesla Model S P85D with Autopilot

However, it's the Autopilot mode option being added to the Tesla Model S that gives Tesla such tremendous boasting power among car makers. And the way Musk describes it is no less riveting, and casual, as the glory days of Steve Jobs addresses. 

Tesla Model S with Autopilot

In his address, Musk announces that they have been able to accelerate Autopilot and bring it to market faster than anticipated. It consists of four parts: 1) Long-range radar that can see through anything, 2) Camera with image-recognition, so that it can read stop signs, distinguish pedestrians, 3) 360 degree long-range ultrasonic sonar (how cool is that!) that establishes a protective cocoon around the vehicle and make a smart move by looking at the ultrasonics, and integrated with that is, 4) the navigation and GPS and real-time traffic. 

Tesla Autopilot Sonar System - Courtesy of Tesla Motors

According to Musk, "The car can do almost anything"--even park itself in the garage: when you get home, you step out of the car, and it opens the garage door and park itself. As well, you can summon the car from anywhere and it'll meet you there; for the ultrasonic sonars act like insect antennae that allow the car to slowly make its way along and around obstacles. Also, if you have your calendar turned on, you can walk out of your house, and the car will meet you there with the temperature set just where you like it, playing the right music, etc. 

However, there is an important distinction according to Musk: that between Autopilot and Autonomous. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Musk was asked the serious question of what will happen if the car does in fact crash? Who will be responsible if the car is on autopilot? He replied by saying that Autopilot is used in the same way as it is in airplanes: that there is a pilot actually guiding the plane. So you can't fall asleep and arrive safely at your destination, which is what autonomous driving will provide. What Autopilot provides, according to Musk, is an easier driving experience and greater safety features. 

Bloomberg: Elon Musk on Tesla's Auto Pilot and Legal Liability

That said, Autopilot is on the way to Autonomous driving, which is where Tesla is heading; for Autonomous driving will require numerous redundancies within the car's design that will give it multiple points of failure, so that if one sensor doesn't react well, there are others that will kick in to ensure the car is navigating accurately and safely. This is what is so special about Tesla, namely that it is allowing the consumer to take part in the prototyping process as it pushes the technology of vehicle design. It's not only electric, but it's a faster electric car that is proving to be safer and, just as importantly, a lot more fun. Indeed, the prices remain beyond the average person's budget for a car (including the Autopilot package, it will cost around $80,000 CA); but as we've seen in the computer world, the prices of new technologies tend to drop steadily. It always costs more for the early adopters before there is a significant decline in price and market ubiquity.