Elon Musk has decided to take a short break from running Twitter to tell all his Tesla customers that every North American owner can access the Full Self-Driving Beta (FSDB) software package via the infotainment system if payment has been made. He also congratulated the team developing the semi-autonomous system for achieving what he describes as a major milestone.
FSDB is a $15,000 option that provides semi-autonomous driving capabilities via the car's comprehensive camera system. It can assist with steering, drive independently to the owner's location, and read traffic lights and stop signs.
FSDB was handed a big update earlier this month, so we are sure many Tesla owners are thrilled by this news.
Despite the demand for access to the FSDB program being high on cars such as the Model 3, X, Y, and S, the feature has been controversial since it was launched. It became such a hot topic that engineers from other manufacturers started calling the brand out for FSDB's shortcomings.
Some of its existing users have even conducted their own tests, some of which involve hitting child-sized mannequins, prompting the brand to respond sternly.
Earlier this year, we also saw in-car footage of the FSDB system going wrong when it nearly slammed into a pedestrian before the driver intervened. In the interest of fairness, we've also seen FSDB save a life.
The extension of FSDB to all eligible cars in North America follows closely after two fatal incidents relating to the Tesla Model 3, both of which took place in California a few months ago. Details are still confidential, but we can confirm that both vehicles were equipped with driver-assist technologies that supposedly played a role in each incident.
Regardless of the drama surrounding FSDB, there is still some appeal for autonomous technology in cars, particularly in busy cities or the long open road.
As it stands, it's believed that the best way to approach the technology is by forcing the driver to keep an eye on the road and a hand on the yoke rather than making the car do all of the work.