Musk explains why Tesla Robotaxi isn't running at night, and Lidar is the answer
2 hours ago
- Elon Musk states the main limitation for Tesla Robotaxi's night hours is difficulty detecting pets in low-light, low-contrast conditions, using the example of 'grey kittens on grey tarmac.'
- Cameras struggle with darkness and contrast, while lidar and radar effectively handle such conditions by using active sensors that work regardless of lighting.
- Tesla has removed radar and ultrasonic sensors from its vehicles since 2021-2022, and never uses lidar, whereas other autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo rely on all three sensor types for 24/7 operation.
- Musk has long dismissed lidar and radar as unnecessary, calling them a 'crutch' or 'fool's errand,' despite acknowledging in 2021 that vision with high-res radar would be better.
- The Robotaxi service in Austin launched with 6 AM to midnight availability but now ends at 11 PM, and Musk explained the extra hour is still limited due to pet detection issues.
- The article criticizes the inconsistency, noting that Tesla's Full Self-Driving runs on the same cameras at any hour with no curfew, and that lidar costs have dropped significantly.
- The top comment suggests the real reason for the curfew might be to avoid overnight remote monitoring shifts, not solely a technical limitation.