Tesla's Autopilot system FSD 13 undergoes evaluation by Mark Rober; outcomes detailed
Tesla's Latest Hardware Boosts Autonomous Driving Capabilities
Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, equipped with its latest Hardware 4 (HW4), has shown significant improvements in obstacle detection and processing capabilities compared to its earlier Hardware 3 (HW3). This was demonstrated in a recent experiment conducted by YouTuber Kyle Paul.
In the experiment, Paul used a 2022 Model Y with HW3 and FSD technology. The vehicle's visualization screen showed no recognition of a stationary wall, plastered with a picture of a road, until it was dangerously close. Manual braking was required to prevent a collision.
In contrast, the 2025 Cybertruck, also equipped with HW4, consistently recognized the stationary wall from a safe distance. The truck came to a smooth stop without any manual intervention. The visualization screen of the Cybertruck showed recognition of the obstacle from a safe distance.
Paul, who has worked with Teslas for nearly a decade in the collision industry, emphasized the improvements in the latest Tesla models. He noted that the Cybertruck appeared to handle FSD as Tesla owners would expect.
The test with the Cybertruck highlights Tesla's continuous hardware and software improvements. According to Paul, Tesla's technology is rapidly evolving, with newer models showing significant advancements in safety and autonomy.
The Model Y used in the experiment was equipped with HW3 and FSD version 12.5.4.2, as well as software update 2025.2.6. The Cybertruck ran FSD version 13.2.8 and software update 2024.45.32.20.
The experiment was inspired by a similar misleading experiment by YouTuber Mark Rober. However, Paul expressed disappointment, as he expected different results from the experiment. His findings suggest that while older Teslas may struggle with certain FSD tasks, the latest hardware delivers a noticeably improved performance.
HW4 is approximately 3 to 5 times faster than HW3, with higher resolution cameras featuring red lenses and a redesigned sensor suite that replaces the older third front-facing camera. This improves visual data quality and obstacle recognition. HW4 supports advanced capabilities such as better reading of complex road signs and dynamic obstacle avoidance, smoother lane changes, speed profile adjustments, and predictive collision avoidance.
Tesla appears to prioritize HW4 vehicles for software improvements, with HW3 often waiting for further optimization. The company's HW4 technology is powering Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet with driverless operation in Austin, demonstrating its practical capability for supervised and unsupervised autonomy beyond HW3’s limitations.
In summary, Tesla's HW4 FSD offers enhanced obstacle detection and overall autonomous driving performance compared to HW3 by leveraging significantly greater computational power and improved sensor technology. This advancement supports more reliable detection and response to obstacles in both the 2024 Model Y and 2025 Cybertruck, aligning with Tesla’s roadmap for increasing autonomy.
- The improvements in Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology, as demonstrated by the 2025 Cybertruck equipped with Hardware 4, raise questions about the effectiveness of finance and transportation industries' reliance on autonomy in vehicles equipped with earlier hardware, such as the Hardware 3 Model Y.
- Technology industries take notice as Tesla's advancements in autonomous driving capabilities, provided by Hardware 4, potentially impact the future of the automotive industry by offering superior obstacle recognition over previous hardware versions, like Hardware 3, potentially revolutionizing the way vehicles handle self-driving tasks.
