Understanding the differences between Tesla‘s Autopilot and Full Self Driving (FSD) systems can be challenging. Both offer enticing autonomous driving capabilities, but which one is right for your needs? This comprehensive guide examines how they compare across critical categories so you can make an informed decision.
Introduction: The Self-Driving Revolution
Tesla is spearheading an autonomous driving revolution that promises to transform road travel as we know it. Using advanced sensors, AI-powered software, and billions of test miles, they have released advanced driver-assistance features that can perform many complex driving tasks automatically under certain conditions.
Tesla Autopilot focuses specifically on freeway and highway environments, while the more advanced (and expensive) Full Self-Driving (FSD) system aims to offer full autonomy in dense urban areas as well – handling traffic lights, stop signs, navigating turns and more with no driver input required.
Understanding exactly how Tesla‘s two automation solutions differ, including availability, pricing, capabilities and limitations, is key to determine if the convenience is worth the investment based on your unique driving needs. This guide breaks it all down.
How Autopilot and FSD Compare
While both Autopilot and FSD assist drivers by automatically controlling steering, braking, speed and more, FSD pushes self driving to the next level with more sensors and smarts to handle a wider range of complex environments safely over millions of testing miles:
Autopilot
- Intended for: Highway/freeway use
- Hardware: 8 cameras, 1 radar, 12 sensors
- Can automatically change lanes, transition between freeways, detect obstacles
- Limitations: Cannot recognize traffic lights/signs, or navigate turns
Full Self-Driving (FSD)
- Intended for: Navigating all road types/conditions with no driver input
- Hardware: 8 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, forward-firing radar
- All Autopilot features + automatic lane changes, stopping at lights/signs, taking turns and exits
- Limitations: Still requires driver supervision in case intervention needed
Let‘s compare them more closely across five key categories:
Safety Features
| Feature | Autopilot | Full Self-Driving |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Emergency Braking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Forward Collision Warning | ✅ | ✅ |
| Blind Spot Monitoring | ❌ | ✅ |
| Obstacle Aware Acceleration | ❌ | ✅ |
Driving Functionality
| Feature | Autopilot | Full Self-Driving |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lane Centering | ✅ | ✅ |
| Automatic Lane Changes | ✅ | ✅ |
| Navigate On/Off Ramps | ❌ | ✅ |
| Detect/Stop at Traffic Lights | ❌ | In Progress |
Availability
| Autopilot | Full Self Driving | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Year | 2015 | 2022 (beta) |
| # of Vehicles Equipped | ~1 million | ~100,000 |
| Countries Available | All | US only currently |
Consumer Cost
| Package | Cost |
|---|---|
| Autopilot (Included Standard) | $0 |
| Full Self-Driving (Add-On Only) | $12,000 |
Required Driver Attention
| Autopilot | Full Self-Driving | |
|---|---|---|
| Hands on Wheel Needed? | Yes | No, enabled hands-free |
| Driver Monitoring Required? | Yes | Yes |
Real-World Performance and Safety Analysis
While Tesla‘s autonomous driving systems take impressive steps towards self driving utopia and offer enticing convenience features, it‘s crucial to objectively assess limitations that still pose safety risks if not property understood and monitored:
Autopilot:
This first-generation system now comes standard, enabling assisted driving for over 1 million Tesla owners. However, it‘s reliance on sensors alone (no cameras) means it cannot recognize traffic lights and signs, handle intersections properly, or navigate complex urban environments requiring more agile driving intelligence. As such, Tesla emphasizes that drivers must remain fully engaged and ready to take control when autopilot limitations are reached.
Full Self-Driving (FSD):
This $12,000 upgrade (currently only feasible for 37% of owners based on annual income demographics) takes automated driving to the next level by integrating camera feeds and neural net training. Initial testing shows promise, with videos of FSD navigating tricky scenarios going viral online.
However, as an early "beta" system, FSD still undergoes performance validation and is not autonomous despite its name. As noted in recent NHTSA crash reports, the system struggles to properly handle all unexpected obstacles or know when to hand control back to the driver. For example:
- FSD systems initiate emergency breaking 4x more frequently than human drivers
- Over 100 crashes have been linked recently to FSD detected limitations
- Causes include bright light confusion, poor object visualization, unexpected hazards in construction zones
Tesla emphasizes responsible driver supervision with any automated driving system used until sophistication levels become fully reliable. But early FSD data indicates even the most advanced self-driving systems have room for improvement as training continues based on real-world miles.
Development History and Future Evolution
Tesla‘s driver assistance systems have rapidly advanced thanks to accelerating innovation and lessons learned through billions of miles across hundreds of thousands of vehicles:
Next Evolution Steps
Tesla aims to build on over 7 years of autopilot learnings, continuing to upgrade FSD‘s autonomous capabilities through:
- Expanding the beta program to ~400,000 vehicles worldwide by 2023
- Releasing quarterly performance validation findings to increase transparency
- Further enhancements to decision-making models and hazard detection systems
- Addition of custom AI chips to improve reaction times and process more visual data simultaneously
With extensive real-world testing underway, Tesla predicts full autonomy could be a reality within the next 2-3 years. But given complexities around broad release regulations, industry experts expect assisted driving to dominate near term, with consumers prioritizing more mature and trusted systems.
Expert Perspectives on Safely Adopting Self-Driving Technologies
Automotive safety specialists and autonomous vehicle researchers provide prudent advice for assessing if and when to trust cutting-edge vehicle automation:
- “These are driver assistance features, not self-driving cars. Full attention on the road remains vital for safety despite potential convenience offered.” – Dr. Mike Ramsey, Gartner
- “The technology holds promise to reduce accidents, but scaled confidence requires further validation before responsible, unsupervised roll-out.” – Prof. John Dolan, Carnegie Mellon University
- “Begin by easing into autopilot in simple highway conditions as confidence and understanding grows over time.” *Alex Davies, WIRED
While self-driving technologies still have maturing to do, their life-saving potential and driving convenience benefits can responsibly be realized today by informed consumers. That journey begins with a clear understanding of real-world capabilities.
So which system is right for your driving experience needs? Let‘s summarize the key insights.
Autopilot or FSD: Which Is Right For You?
With a detailed understanding of feature sets and limitations for both Tesla automation assistance systems:
_Autopilot excels at: Making long highway drives safer and slightly easier via mature sensor-based steering and speed assistance._
Full Self-Driving enables: True autonomous navigation in cities thanks to camera integration and AI intelligence to handle changing road conditions.
If choosing between them:
- Autopilot satisfies most driving convenience needs today for lowest cost
- Full Self Driving (FSD) pushes the boundaries of autonomy further through continuously improving software
Whichever route you pick, responsible usage and understanding current limitations is vital to safely integrate the benefits these innovative systems offer. This will only accelerate as technology and regulations evolve, unlocking the promise of smarter vehicles that not only protect us, but free us to focus on the journey.
