Elon Musk: We Will Have “Full Self-Driving Capabilities” in 3 to 6 Months

In Brief

•   In a recent tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote that cars with full self-driving capabilities will arrive in the next three to six months.

•   Tesla has been making improvements to both its Autopilot software and hardware, so this timeline seems doable for the cutting-edge company.

Many can’t wait for the day they can just sit back and enjoy a car ride without the hassle of driving, and if Tesla CEO and founder Elon Musk has anything to say about it, they won’t have to wait much longer. In a tweeted reply to a question about when Tesla’s enhanced Autopilot system would transition into truly self-driving technology, Musk asserted that cars with full self-driving capabilities are coming in the next three to six months.

@tsrandall 3 months maybe, 6 months definitely

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 24, 2017

Of course, Tesla has already made considerable improvements to its Autopilot software over the last couple of months, addressing the problems that lead to the several crash incidents it suffered last year. According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as part of its investigation on the May 2016 fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S on Autopilot, these improvements on the software are effective and have already decreased Tesla’s car crash rate by 40 percent.

With 94 percent of crashes attributed to human error, if Tesla can get their system perfected, it could save thousands of lives each year. Given all the improvements the electric car company has already made to its system, six months tops to get to full Level 4 autonomy seems doable. Plus, Musk announced earlier that hardware improvements on Tesla’s car models will also come at a more aggressive rate.

It’s this full-on hardware/software integration that will lead to the self-driving cars Tesla has promised, so get ready for the day when your car will handle the morning commute for you.

Read more https://futurism.com/elon-musk-we-will-have-full-self-driving-capabilities-in-3-to-6-months/