Elon Musk recently highlighted challenges Tesla’s robotaxis face in detecting animals at night, using the analogy of “grey kittens on grey tarmac.” This comes as the service in Austin has extended operating hours from 10 PM to 11 PM. Musk noted that the main concern is avoiding accidents with pets that are difficult to see in low-light conditions.
Currently, Tesla relies solely on cameras, which require light and contrast for object detection, unlike lidar and radar systems. Musk has consistently criticized lidar, referring to it as a “fool’s errand” and arguing that it reduces safety due to sensor interference. In contrast, competitors like Waymo utilize a combination of cameras, lidar, and radar for enhanced safety.
The European Union is set to vote on approving Tesla’s driver assistance software, which is classified as Level 2—meaning the driver remains responsible for the vehicle. There have been concerns surrounding Tesla’s safety statistics, particularly following two fatal incidents involving stopped vehicles at night. The Dutch regulator had previously approved the software, but not without scrutiny over the data provided by Tesla.
