Testing Tesla Autopilot can be an exciting and insightful experience, allowing you to understand the capabilities and limitations of this advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS). However, it's crucial to remember that Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) (Supervised) are not autonomous driving systems; they are driver assistance features that require active driver supervision at all times. You, as the driver, are always responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle.
Step 1: Prepare for Your Autopilot Test Drive
Ready to dive into the world of assisted driving? Before you even think about engaging Autopilot, let's make sure you're fully prepared for a safe and informative experience.
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| How To Test Tesla Autopilot |
A. Read Your Owner's Manual!
Seriously, this is the most important step. Your Tesla's owner's manual contains detailed information specific to your vehicle model and its Autopilot version. It will outline the features, their limitations, and important safety guidelines. Do not skip this!
B. Understand the Autopilot Features
Tesla offers different levels of driver assistance, often referred to as "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)." It's essential to know what each includes:
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC): This foundational feature maintains your set speed and an adjustable following distance from the vehicle in front of you. It will automatically accelerate and decelerate, even in stop-and-go traffic.
Autosteer: This feature builds on TACC by intelligently keeping your car centered in its lane. It uses cameras to track lane markings and surrounding vehicles.
Navigate on Autopilot: Designed primarily for highways, this feature actively guides your Tesla from a highway's on-ramp to off-ramp. This includes performing automatic lane changes, navigating interchanges, and taking the correct exits.
Full Self-Driving (Supervised): This is the more advanced package, attempting to drive to your destination by following curves, stopping at intersections with traffic lights and stop signs, making turns, and handling urban environments. Again, active supervision is required.
Autopark: This feature helps your Tesla automatically park in parallel or perpendicular spaces.
Summon/Smart Summon: Allows your vehicle to move forward or backward a short distance (Summon) or autonomously navigate through parking lots to pick you up (Smart Summon), even while you're outside the vehicle.
C. Ensure Your Vehicle is Ready
Before any test, perform a quick check:
Clean Cameras: Autopilot heavily relies on cameras. Ensure all cameras (front, rear, left, and right) are clean and free of obstructions (mud, snow, dirt, etc.).
Software Updates: Make sure your Tesla has the latest software version installed. Over-the-air (OTA) updates often improve Autopilot performance and introduce new features.
Map Data: Ensure the latest navigation maps are downloaded via Wi-Fi.
Step 2: Choosing Your Test Environment
The environment where you test Autopilot significantly impacts its performance and what you can learn.
A. Controlled Environments (Initial Testing)
Tip: Break it down — section by section.
For your very first Autopilot experience, choose a controlled and predictable environment:
Highways with Clear Lane Markings: Start on a multi-lane highway with well-defined lane lines, minimal construction, and predictable traffic flow. This is where Autopilot (and especially Navigate on Autopilot) is designed to excel.
Daylight and Good Weather: Avoid testing in heavy rain, snow, fog, or at night initially. Poor visibility can significantly impact camera performance.
B. Gradual Progression to More Complex Scenarios
Once you're comfortable with the basics, you can gradually introduce more challenging scenarios, always with extreme caution:
Varying Traffic Conditions: Test in light, moderate, and even stop-and-go traffic to observe how TACC and Autosteer handle different speeds and braking.
Gentle Curves: See how Autosteer maintains lane centering on mild curves.
Interchanges (with Navigate on Autopilot): If you have Navigate on Autopilot, observe its ability to handle highway exits and merges. Be ready to intervene if it seems hesitant or misjudges a maneuver.
Urban Environments (with FSD (Supervised)): If you have FSD (Supervised), you can test its ability to navigate city streets, including traffic lights, stop signs, and turns. This is where active supervision is most critical, as unexpected situations are far more common.
Step 3: Engaging Autopilot Features
The method for engaging Autopilot features varies slightly by Tesla model.
A. Engaging Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC)
Model S & Model X (2012-2021): Pull down once on the cruise control stalk (left of the steering column).
Model 3 & Model Y: Pull down once on the gear selector stalk (right of the steering column).
B. Engaging Autosteer
Model S & Model X (2012-2021): Pull towards you twice on the cruise control stalk.
Model 3 & Model Y: Pull down twice on the gear selector stalk.
Visual Confirmation: A grey steering wheel icon will appear on your display when Autosteer is available. When engaged, it will turn blue.
C. Engaging Navigate on Autopilot
Enable Autosteer: Go to Controls > Autopilot > Autosteer and enable the Navigate on Autopilot feature.
Calibration and Map Download: Ensure camera calibration is complete and the latest navigation maps are downloaded.
Activate: For each route where Navigate on Autopilot is available, you'll see a NAVIGATE ON AUTOPILOT button in your Navigation Turn List. You can also configure it to activate automatically when a destination is entered and Autopilot is engaged (Controls > Autopilot > Customize Navigate on Autopilot).
Model 3 & Model Y: On most highways, move the gear lever twice downwards in quick succession.
Model S & Model X (2012-2021): On most highways, pull the cruise stalk towards you twice in quick succession.
D. Engaging Full Self-Driving (Supervised)
Enable: Go to Controls > Autopilot > Full Self-Driving (Supervised) and confirm your understanding of the system's requirements.
Optional Customization: You can customize settings like "Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Profile" (Chill, Standard, Hurry) and "Max Speed Offset."
Activate: With FSD (Supervised) enabled and available, you can activate it at speeds less than 85 mph (140 km/h) by pressing the right scroll button. If you don't choose a destination, the car will try to determine the most probable driving path.
You can also activate it from Park by enabling "Start FSD (Supervised) from Park" in controls, then touching and holding "Start FSD (Supervised)" on the touchscreen.
Step 4: Actively Supervise and Observe
Tip: Pause whenever something stands out.
This is the heart of testing Autopilot. Your role is not just to sit back, but to actively monitor and be ready to take over.
A. Hands on the Wheel, Eyes on the Road
Despite the "Auto" in Autopilot, Tesla emphasizes that your hands must remain on the steering wheel at all times (or apply slight torque to the steering wheel for newer systems that monitor this) and your eyes must be on the road. The cabin camera also monitors driver attentiveness.
Steering Wheel Torque: If the system doesn't detect sufficient torque on the steering wheel, you'll receive escalating audible and visual alerts. Ignoring these warnings can lead to Autopilot lockout for the remainder of your trip.
Cabin Camera Monitoring: The cabin camera (above the rearview mirror) helps determine your attentiveness. If it detects you're not paying attention, it will also issue warnings.
B. What to Observe and How to React
Lane Keeping: Does the car stay centered? Does it drift? How does it handle curves?
Following Distance: Is the following distance appropriate for the traffic conditions? Does it brake smoothly or abruptly?
Lane Changes (Manual and Automatic): If using automatic lane changes, do they occur safely and decisively? Always check your mirrors and blind spots before and during an automatic lane change. If manually initiated, how smoothly does it execute?
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Recognition (FSD (Supervised)): How accurately does it identify and respond to traffic lights and stop signs? Be ready to brake if it misjudges!
Intersections (FSD (Supervised)): Does it navigate intersections safely, including turns and dealing with cross-traffic? This is a particularly complex area where driver intervention is often needed.
Unusual Behavior/Phantom Braking: Pay close attention to any sudden or unexpected braking (often called "phantom braking") or erratic steering. This is a known issue for some users and requires immediate driver intervention.
Weather and Road Conditions: How does Autopilot perform in different lighting conditions or on less-than-perfect roads (e.g., faded lane markings, construction zones)? Its performance can be significantly affected.
C. Taking Over
You can always take over control of your Tesla at any time.
Brake Pedal: Gently pressing the brake pedal will disengage Autopilot.
Steering Wheel: Applying a significant turning force to the steering wheel will disengage Autosteer while leaving Traffic-Aware Cruise Control on.
Gear Lever/Stalk: Pushing the gear stalk up (for stalk-equipped vehicles) or pressing the right scroll wheel (for stockless vehicles) can also disengage.
Step 5: Document Your Experience and Reflect
After your test drives, take some time to process what you observed.
A. Note Down Key Observations
What worked well? Did Autopilot handle routine highway driving flawlessly?
What were the challenges? Did it struggle with certain intersections, lane markings, or unexpected maneuvers by other drivers?
When did you have to intervene? Why was intervention necessary?
What were the environmental factors? (e.g., bright sun, light rain, heavy traffic).
B. Understand Limitations and Warnings
Tesla's Autopilot, while advanced, has clear limitations:
Tip: Read once for flow, once for detail.
It is not a self-driving system.
It may not detect all objects, especially partially in a driving lane.
It can be affected by dirty cameras, poor visibility, faded lane markings, and adverse weather conditions.
It's not designed for all road types (e.g., unpaved roads, extremely winding roads).
It may not always detect parking spaces accurately for Autopark.
Always remember: you are the ultimate safety system.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to check my Tesla Autopilot version?
You can check your Autopilot configuration from your vehicle's touchscreen by selecting 'Controls' > 'Software' > 'Additional Vehicle Information.'
How to engage Traffic-Aware Cruise Control?
On Model 3 and Model Y, pull down once on the gear selector stalk. For Model S and Model X (2012-2021), pull down once on the cruise control stalk.
How to engage Autosteer?
On Model 3 and Model Y, pull down twice on the gear selector stalk. For Model S and Model X (2012-2021), pull the cruise stalk towards you twice.
How to disengage Tesla Autopilot?
You can disengage Autopilot by gently pressing the brake pedal, applying significant turning force to the steering wheel, or using the gear lever/right scroll wheel depending on your vehicle and specific feature.
How to know if Autopilot is engaged?
QuickTip: Skip distractions — focus on the words.
A blue steering wheel icon will appear on your display, next to the speedometer, when Autosteer is engaged.
How to enable Navigate on Autopilot?
First, enable Autosteer in your settings (Controls > Autopilot > Autosteer), then enable the Navigate on Autopilot feature. Ensure your cameras are calibrated and maps are updated.
How to use Autopark?
When your vehicle detects a suitable parking spot, a grey 'P' icon will appear on your instrument panel. To use Autopark, press the brake, shift to 'Reverse,' and then tap 'Start Autopark' on the touchscreen.
How to ensure driver attentiveness with Autopilot?
Tesla's system monitors steering wheel torque and uses the cabin camera to check for driver attentiveness, issuing warnings if it detects you are not paying attention or have your hands off the wheel.
How to determine if Tesla Autopilot is safe?
While Tesla releases safety data, critics argue the data doesn't tell the full story. It's crucial to understand that Autopilot is a driver-assistance system, and you are always responsible for monitoring the road and being prepared to take over.
How to get Full Self-Driving (Supervised)?
If your vehicle has the FSD computer 3.0 or above, you can purchase FSD (Supervised) or subscribe to it via the Tesla app.
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