Tesla Full Self Driving Beta: FSD Beta 11.3.6 — Revolutionary New Model V11?

For six months my spouse and I’ve been utilizing numerous FSD Beta V10 variations. Just lately, we’ve been listening to about Tesla engaged on a giant improve to V11. This improve would incorporate large enhancements, together with placing the native driving stack along with the long-distance driving stack right into a unified entire. We heard studies of individuals downloading it for weeks. Lastly, we received our improve, so right here’s my report on what I’ve noticed to this point.

In a nutshell: The improve does present noticeable enhancements in smoothness and earlier lane modifications. Nonetheless, I’m nonetheless seeing a number of the most nagging failures (e.g., phantom braking and unsuitable lane choice at cease lights). Habits at rotaries/roundabouts is now typically excellent, however at different instances, my automotive stopped lifeless in the course of the rotary. On one other event, my automotive additionally stopped lifeless in the course of an intersection. Backside line: You continue to should be prepared for fast intervention in any advanced or heavy site visitors state of affairs.

Background

Simply so you realize:  My spouse and I’ve now pushed our Tesla Mannequin 3 for 3.5 years together with coast to coast driving and our odometer reads 94,592 miles. We nonetheless like it!

On October 21, 2021 my spouse and I first received entry to FSD Beta. We’ve used and noticed FSD Beta by way of 9 variations of the software program V10.5, V10.8, V10.10, V10.11.2.1, V10.12.2, V10.69.2.4. and now the “large” replace to V11.3.6 At first, we used FSD Beta on a regular basis, nevertheless it has little extra utility over “Autosteer Beta” on longer journeys and there may be extra chance that you’ll make a mistake and have the software program taken from you. Simply now I made the error of leaving it energetic on an extended journey. There have been a few canines using in a pickup truck mattress that glided by us on the freeway. I sped as much as present the canines to my grandchildren and exceeded the 85 mph FSD Beta velocity restrict. Earlier than I knew it, I had used up two of the 5 allotted pressured disengagements. Why two? I do not know. The one comfort is the promise that if I exceed my restrict of 5, I’ll solely lose entry for 2 weeks as a substitute of the previously unspecified interval. Backside line: Solely use FSD Beta on quick journeys on metropolis streets the place it should make all of the turns for you and you may think about not breaking any guidelines.

When I’m driving usually with none automated help, it’s like I’m alone Autopilot. More often than not I don’t actively give it some thought, however I instinctively do the suitable factor. Even in heavy site visitors, I’m fairly relaxed. With any Tesla, the Autosteer perform is a big stress reducer on lengthy journeys. Nonetheless, paradoxically, when utilizing FSD Beta for auto navigation on metropolis streets, it’s aggravating! I’m at all times waiting for it to screw up or be too timid. I need to at all times be able to intervene instantly.

I paid $6,000 additional for Full Self Driving after I purchased my Tesla Mannequin 3 in October 2019. The price so as to add Full Self Driving to your Tesla or with new Tesla purchases is now $15,000. You may as well lease the software program for $99/month when you’ve got bought Enhanced Autopilot or $199/month if not. I perceive that my spouse and I at the moment are among the many 500,0000 clients which have entry to FSD Beta.

Elon Musk has promised that every one Tesla drivers who bought their automobiles after 2016 when the complete complement of cameras had been put in would ultimately be capable of lease their automobiles out as robotaxis. What are the possibilities of this occurring??? Not going! For a starter, having lived by way of 10 variations of the software program, now we have seen incremental enhancements however at all times critical flaws and even some backsliding that make it really feel that we are not any nearer to true stage 5 automation than we had been with the primary model we examined. Additionally, Teslas manufactured after spring of 2019 (like mine) received the {Hardware} 2 improve, which has a lot larger computing energy than the earlier model. It is just with issue that house owners of the earlier variations have been in a position to get this improve. Now we’re studying that Teslas manufactured after summer time of 2023 will get upgraded cameras and an much more highly effective pc. The thousands and thousands of homeowners of the earlier variations, like me, will be unable to get these upgrades.

In my view, the primary model of FSD Beta V10.5 that I examined was an enormous enhance in performance. You can enter a location into the navigation and the automotive would mechanically drive you there. Within the 10 variations since, there have been vital enhancements, however there have been additionally nagging faults and backsliding. With FSD Beta V11.3.6, I nonetheless should be able to intervene instantaneously and it’s unusable when attempting to merge onto a busy avenue at a cease signal, particularly with a automotive following shut behind you. Additionally, you actually have to show it off in heavy site visitors and sophisticated conditions. Observe: There could also be some enchancment on this space with V11.3.6, however I haven’t had an opportunity to check it totally.

Determine 2: Automation selector. Full Self-Driving (Beta) V11.3.6. April 17, 2023. Picture by Fritz Hasler.

I’ve a alternative of 4 ranges of automation: 1) Visitors-Conscious Cruise Management 2) Autosteer with no navigation 3) Cruise and Auto-Navigation on restricted entry highways and 4) Full Self-Driving (Beta) with auto navigation on metropolis streets. Observe: In Determine 2, you see the automation selector. With simply Autosteer chosen, you get skinny blue strains on both sides of your lane. With auto navigation on restricted entry highways (Beta), you get a blue line in the course of your lane. With Full Self-Driving (Beta) V11.3.6 chosen, you get a heavy huge line in the course of your lane as proven in Determine 1. Backside line: you may inform what stage of automation you’ve chosen by observing which of the three completely different sorts of strains you see in your lane.

Latest Observations Utilizing FSD Beta V11.3.6

Latest Important Enhancements

Rotary/Roundabout, Huge Enchancment Generally: With commonplace Computerized Steering Help, your automotive can’t make the sharp turns within the rotary and fails halfway by way of. Up till FSD Beta V10.20.2.4, my automotive would cease lifeless earlier than getting into the rotary however then negotiate the rotary correctly. With the most recent software program replace, my automotive will deal with the rotary correctly like a yield signal if no automobiles are approaching you and proceed to navigate accurately by way of the rotary. I experimented with rotaries a number of instances with V11.3.6. The conduct was appropriate more often than not. Nonetheless, typically my automotive simply got here to a lifeless cease in the course of the rotary. Observe: There was additionally one event the place my automotive got here to a lifeless cease in the course of an everyday intersection.

Earlier Lane Modifications: In earlier variations, my automotive would typically wait till the final doable second to make the lane change essential to make a flip. Ceaselessly that may be too late and it could miss making the flip. With FSD Beta V11.3.6, my automotive turns into the correct lane and makes a really clean flip into the flip lane a lot earlier.

Doesn’t run cease signal anymore: Till a latest model of the software program, my automotive would run the cease signal the place 1650 North makes a T onto Snow Canyon Parkway in Saint George, Utah. My automotive will now accurately cease on the cease signal earlier than continuing.

Now stops accurately at cease indicators: In earlier variations, my automotive would cease as much as 25 ft earlier than some cease indicators earlier than creeping slowly ahead. With FSD Beta V11.3.6, my automotive will now cease accurately in any respect cease indicators.

Smoother, extra correct conduct in large retailer parking tons: Beforehand, in large retailer parking tons, my steering wheel would shake nervously and most of the time come to a lifeless finish somewhat than the parking zone exit. With V11.3.6, the steering wheel conduct is way smoother and navigation going into and exiting parking tons is extra dependable.

Huge brother is watching: With FSD Beta (and lately additionally for good cruise and automated steering help), the digital camera above the rearview mirror is taking a look at your face. The system can inform if you’re wanting on the display screen to your proper, wanting down at your telephone or at one thing you might be consuming, and perhaps even when your eyes are shut. If you happen to persist doing any of this stuff, you get an audible and visible warning. If you happen to persist even longer, you’re going to get a pressured disengagement.

5 strikes and also you’re out! You will have a funds of 5 pressured disengagements earlier than your FSD Beta privileges are revoked. You get a pressured disengagement once you fail to place the correct quantity of torque on the steering wheel lengthy sufficient, fail to have a look at the highway typically sufficient, or go above 85 mph with FSD engaged. We misplaced our FSD privileges twice as a result of my spouse and I had 5 pressured disengagements some months in the past, however entry was restored a number of weeks later every time. My spouse and I drove for a pair months with out infractions with V10.69.4 as a result of we used it just for native journeys. As I described beforehand, we received two pressured disengagements on our first journey with V11.3.6 by exceeding 85 mph with FSD Beta engaged. So, we now have a funds of solely 3 pressured disengagements earlier than we lose it once more. Supposedly, this time we are going to lose it for less than 2 weeks. Observe: you want flip off FSD Beta if you wish to exceed 85 mph.

What I like most about FSD Beta: FSD Beta gained’t drive your automotive into your storage or again it out. Nonetheless, if you happen to again your automotive out of the storage onto the road, it’s actually enjoyable to place it into drive, look forward to the steering wheel ikon to seem, pull the suitable inventory down twice and have the automotive drive you away completely (typically with out intervention), each on metropolis streets and with combined metropolis and freeway driving, to any location that you just put into the NAV.

Most Critical Remaining Points

Unsuitable lane choice and failure to comply with navigation route. I’ve noticed quite a few instances with earlier variations when FSD Beta will make a lane choice that’s inconsistent with the navigation route. Worse: typically my automotive will even deviate from the navigation route that I’ve chosen. That is fairly unnerving. You now see the strong huge blue line (See Determine 1) indicating the route the navigation is directing your automotive to take. I wish to hear from others whether or not this conduct has improved with V11.3.6.

Phantom braking nonetheless not addressed: My automotive will nonetheless do phantom braking pretty incessantly. Because of this you’re going to get reasonable braking for no obvious purpose. I maintain my foot evenly resting on the accelerator in order that I can block this if wanted. It’s annoying, however the braking could be very not often excessive, and I solely want to dam it if somebody is following me carefully.

Within the feedback part, please give me your personal observations, significantly about phantom braking, unprotected left turns, and different new conduct, complaints, and so forth. with V11.3.6. I haven’t had it lengthy sufficient to guage all conduct.