Tesla's recently launched Robotaxi in Austin, Texas, faces significant challenges, particularly concerning its vision systems in bright sunshine. Unlike competitors, Tesla exclusively uses cameras for its self-driving technology, claiming that sensors and LiDAR are unnecessary. CEO Elon Musk emphasizes that humans drive without these tools, suggesting cars should as well. He introduced direct photon counting to counteract issues with camera visibility in bright conditions, though results have varied, with some users reporting success while others remain skeptical. The real-world functionality of this approach is under continuous observation as the service rolls out.
Actually, it does not blind the camera. We use an approach which is direct photon count. When you see a processed image, so the image that goes from the sort of photon counter - the silicon photon counter - that then goes through a digital signal processor or image signal processor, that's normally what happens. And then the image that you see looks all washed out, because if you point the camera at the sun, the post-processing of the photon counting washes things out.
We've had a handful of people state that they have had no issue using the Robotaxi when it is driving into direct sunlight.
Collection
[
|
...
]