At a Cirrus event on Friday, someone attempted to use the self-driving “Summon” feature of their Tesla Model Y to disastrous results. The car seemingly demonstrated the capability of Tesla’s (NASDAQ: TSLA) self driving tech by crashing into the tail of a parked US$3.5 million Cirrus Vision Jet.
A Reddit user caught the action on video, and as of this writing, there are no details yet on who the owner of the car was, and how it got to the tarmac.
As the name suggests, the Summon feature allows the car’s operator to move the car from a parking spot to their location, using their phone’s GPS as the target location. According to the Tesla site, the Model Y’s Summon works within approximately 12 meters. The Smart Summon feature, meanwhile works within 65 meters, and it should be able to maneuver around and stop for objects “as necessary.” And the carmaker says it’s helpful for getting you “out of a tight parking spot, through puddles, or helping you retrieve your car while carrying packages.”
It’s probably safe to assume though that the feature’s sensors can’t detect and maneuver around taller objects, or you know, stationary aircraft.
And the feature does come with a lot of warnings — including using it only in private parking lots and driveways — to remind users that they can’t pull a Batman just yet.
Information for this briefing was found via Reddit and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Views expressed within are solely that of the author. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
