Tesla's Robotaxis: A Bumpy Ride Into the Future

Tesla's robotaxis have hit the road in Austin, but not without raising some eyebrows. The U. S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has already been in touch with Tesla after videos surfaced online showing these self-driving cars breaking traffic rules. The NHTSA is keeping a close eye on the situation and has reached out to Tesla for more details. The robotaxis started giving paid rides to a select group of customers on Sunday. This is Tesla's first real-world test of its autonomous vehicle technology. Tesla already sells a version of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software to car owners, but it's important to note that this software still requires the driver to keep their hands on the wheel. The robotaxis, however, are equipped with an unsupervised version of FSD, though Tesla hasn't shared many details about this software. Despite the lack of supervision, each robotaxi has a human "safety monitor" sitting in the front passenger seat during rides. Videos online show these robotaxis speeding and even swerving into the wrong lane. One video, in particular, shows a Tesla robotaxi suddenly braking twice without any apparent reason. The car hit the brakes as it approached police vehicles parked near the roadway. This raises some questions about the safety and reliability of Tesla's autonomous technology. While the robotaxis are designed to drive on their own, the presence of a safety monitor suggests that there's still room for improvement. The NHTSA's involvement also highlights the importance of ensuring that these vehicles meet safety standards. As Tesla continues to test and refine its robotaxis, it's clear that there are still challenges to overcome. The company's vision of a future with self-driving cars is exciting, but it's important to make sure that these vehicles are safe for everyone on the road.