Tesla will be using its own GPS database to refine Smart Summon, which could help improve autonomous parking capabilities in the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite. Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla will have its own GPS database and it will be used to refine Smart Summon in a reply on Twitter.
Musk had replied to a theory that Third Row Tesla Podcast shared with the community via Twitter. “Theoretically it should be possible to improve smart summon’s routing algorithms if Tesla had their own database of GPS points and driving data for Teslas in parking lots[.] [T]hen they could just query to get a sense of where the lanes are, as long as Teslas have driven through,” said the tweet by @thirdrowtesla.
This will happen
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 13, 2020
Tesla Smart Summon came out just last year, and the TSLA community have been both enthusiastic and helpful with the feature. Smart Summon was met with enthusiasm because it was a good indicator of Tesla’s progress with its Full Self-Driving suite. Despite the community’s enthusiasm, however, they were also the first critics of Smart Summon.
Tesla received a lot of advice, opinions, and insights from its supporters who wanted to help improve Smart Summon. For instance, some Tesla Motors Club (TMC) members suggested that owners should update Open Street Maps to improve Smart Summon.
After its release, a few owners realized that sometimes the route their cars chose to take while on Smart Summon wasn’t always the best. Sometimes the Smart Summon would pick the longer route to take rather than the more convenient one. TMC members found that updating Open Street Maps improved the paths Smart Summon chose.
Tesla’s GPS database would probably improve the paths Smart Summon chooses as well. The GPS database would also be helpful for Tesla’s autonomous parking feature. Like Smart Summon, Tesla’s autonomous parking feature will be another indication of the company’s progress with FSD.
Autonomous parking will be a key feature for the future of Tesla’s self-driving vehicles, specifically its Robotaxi fleet. Smart Summon was the first key feature because passengers would need to hail from Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet. Autonomous parking is vital because Tesla Robotaxis should be able to park or briefly stop in various spaces without a driver present.
Former Tesla Autopilot Engineer Hints At How Much FSD Will Improve On Third Row Podcast https://t.co/2J6F1Zudlh pic.twitter.com/HYNsh5lAGh
— Tesmanian.com (@Tesmanian_com) April 8, 2020
During the TSLA Q4 2019 Earnings Call, Elon Musk suggested that a feature-complete FSD could be released in late 2020. Although, it must be clarified that the feature-complete FSD suite will still require a driver at the wheel. It is only a step closer to true autonomous driving.
“Well, I mean, to be precise, I said I was hoping it would be feature-complete with both FSD by the end of last year. We got pretty close. It’s looking like we might be feature-complete in a few months. The feature-complete just means like it has some chance of going from your home to work, let’s say with no interventions. So, that’s -- it doesn’t mean the features are working well, but it means it has above zero chance. So I think that’s looking like maybe it’s going to be [a] couple of months from now,” said Musk.
Featured Image Credit: Tesla
