Tesla is asking vehicle owners for permission to collect more video data in an effort to “make self-driving a reality,” according to Electrek. The company is also updating its Autopilot software to lift many of the restrictions on how fast you can drive while using its semi-autonomous, hands-free feature.
Last year, the electric carmaker announced that, moving forward, all its new cars would come equipped with the hardware for “full self-driving capabilities,” including eight cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors that can detect both hard and soft objects. Now, Tesla wants its drivers’ permission to collect more data from the video captured by those cameras for the purposes of improving its self-driving software.
According to Electrek, Tesla sent a message recently asking owners to approve a new video data sharing policy. “We need to collect short video clips using the car’s external cameras to learn how to recognize things like lane lines, street signs, and traffic light positions. The more fleet learning of road conditions we are able to do, the better your Tesla’s self-driving ability will become.”
Tesla assures drivers in the message that it is not seeking to collect any personal information, like license plate numbers, vehicle identification information, or any details connected with the drivers’ privacy. But Tesla says it may share some of the video data it collects with its partners and suppliers. “At no point is any personally identifiable information collected or shared during the process,” the message concludes.
Mobileye severed ties with Tesla last September, citing concerns regarding Autopilot. Tesla claimed Mobileye was trying to block the carmaker’s in-house efforts to develop its own image recognition software.
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