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An employee drives a Tesla Motors Inc. Model S electric automobile, equipped with Autopilot hardware and software, hands-free on a highway.
Tesla engineers repeatedly argued in favor of adding more sensors to the carmaker’s vehicles, but top executives, including CEO Elon Musk, rejected the idea, saying the devices were ineffective or would annoy drivers too much, says a new report from the Wall Street Journal.
Engineers wanted to add sensors to the company’s Autopilot system that would have alerted drivers when they took their eyes off the road or took their hands off the wheel, but senior executives, including Musk, concluded they weren’t necessary.
Tesla was not immediately available to comment for CNBC, but told the Wall Street Journal that the company “explored many technologies and opted for the combination of a hands-on-wheel torsion sensor with visual and audio alerts, and we will of course continue to evaluate new technologies as we evolve the Tesla fleet over time.”
Tesla’s Autopilot, a driver assistance system, has come under scrutiny after some high profile accidents. Most recently, a driver in Mountain View, California, died after crashing into a concrete divider while his vehicle had Autopilot engaged.
Source : CNBC
