Dare To Ride a Car That Takes Control? Tesla Motor's Model S Autopilot Drives and Parks Itself

By Precy Dumlao
Tesla Model S car
Tesla Model S self-driving car. Tesla Motors

How would you feel like if you cruised down the freeway in a car that won't let you control the steering wheel?

Even if most tech reviewers find Tesla Motor's Model S autopilot feature undoubtedly very cool and promising, the self-driving and self-steering (and self-parking) car is still giving drivers the heebie-jeebies.

Version 7.0 of the car's firmware has added auto steer functionality for the freeway so that the car can actually navigate curves and lanes and make it seem like it knows what its doing with the driver's intervention.

IGN's Ryan McCaffrey took out the IGN CEO's TESLA Model S and drove it on Highway 101 north, heading back towards IGN in San Francisco. After merging into the thick of the action, he was surprised at what he found.

McCaffrey pulled the stalk twice on the steering wheel to initiate auto pilot. The wheel stiffened up, making it difficult for the driver to wrench control away from the car. The car picked up on the nav the lane markings - if these are blue the car can reflect it on the app's screen.

When McCaffrey came up to a curve, the car steered itself safely. When he tried a lane change, he put his turn signal on and the car changed lanes by itself.

The whole experience has totally freaked out and amazed McCaffrey by turns. "I have a difficult time wrapping mt head around it. This isn't supposed to exist. This isn't supposed to happen yet."

McCaffrey goes on to say that normally he would have a hard time driving and talking to the camera at the same time, but he raises his hands to show that he is cruising down the highway hands-free. "Instead I'm just keeping my eyes open making sure that everything is good. And I am talking to you."

Apparently, the shockers weren't over yet.

McCaffrey proceeded to try out whether the car could park by itself. It promptly went through the motions of parallel parking, backing in and out, which "worked out like a charm."

The IGN reporter stressed that though it was impressive, the feature was in no way perfect. Electrek reports that during the press conference for the release of the Autopilot, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that a common problem with the early version was that it tended to take exits on the highway when it wasn't supposed to.

To fix such bugs, he said that the Model S owner can "train" the autonomous features of the system to feed the collective network intelligence of the fleet by driving the electric vehicle on autopilot.

The Tesla Model S, has the beta of the autosteering function out, and is part of the autopilot package available on any new Tesla Model S or Model X.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.

Top Stories