During an exchange with Deutsche Bank, Travis Axelrod, head of investor relations at Tesla, confirmed that remote supervision would be integrated from the first steps of the Cybercab. “ It is reasonable to assume that a remote operator will be needed initially, for security and redundancy reasons “, he explained.
Human assistance to get started
The Cybercab, unveiled last October in California, is a vehicle designed without a steering wheel or pedals. It is based on Tesla’s in-house software, Full Self-Driving (FSD), which relies solely on cameras and artificial intelligence fed by millions of kilometers of recorded driving. Unlike other companies that use expensive technologies like LiDAR, Tesla focuses on the simplicity and effectiveness of its low-cost sensors.
But this minimalist approach still requires a little human help. Tesla is therefore working to train a team of operators capable of taking orders remotely, in particular via virtual reality headsets. A solution that will also allow the AI to continue learning in real time.
In addition to its technological ambitions, Tesla is playing the savings card. According to Eric Earley, senior engineer at Tesla, the Cybercab uses about half as many parts as a Model 3. ” Two seats are a real asset. This improves aerodynamics and simplifies cleaning of vehicles for ride-sharing services “, he clarified. An easy-to-clean bench seat and sleek bodywork are enough to appeal to fleet operators.
Tesla is targeting annual production of two million Cybercabs and plans new autonomous features, such as a wireless charging system and an integrated cleaning robot. The objective: to eliminate human intervention, even for maintenance… despite everything, robotaxis will need the help of human teleoperators to avoid disasters on the road.
This choice to start with human supervision reassures as much as it challenges. The Cybercabs will be able to boast impressive autonomy, but not yet total independence. In the meantime, Tesla continues to recruit engineers to refine its software and strengthen its teams.
If everything goes as planned, these futuristic taxis could shake up urban mobility. But before arriving at this 100% autonomous model, Tesla prefers to move cautiously, with an ever-vigilant human eye. For now, teleoperators will not just be a safety net: it is also a necessary step to train cars to one day become completely autonomous.
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