What does the future hold for a company that could be argued as the most divisive/polarizing automotive manufacturer entail? Let’s know Future of Tesla Technology.
……..Could it be the tech already contained within, objectively higher safety standards, Cars that can levitate themselves (Roadster SpaceX package), increased performance, or ability to make fart noises to unsuspecting passengers? The vehicles can do that now!
I would first argue that Tesla is not an automotive manufacturer; at least in the traditional sense. Tesla is a Software company that incorporates a means to move that technology in a physical environment.
Most of the bleeding edge technology contained within the core of every Tesla is an array of hardware, software, sensors, and cameras to identify its environment, and navigate in a manner that could be considered on par, or, statistically higher than a human driver.
So, what is the real secret sauce of Tesla? Hint…. it’s not Franks Red Hot!
The answer is a mix between a highly sophisticated Artificial Intelligence Engine capable of interpreting data points in order to make a navigational decision, Software years ahead of any competitor, and the upcoming switch to Hardware 3 (HW3) from Hardware 2 (HW2) computers to allow for feature complete Full-Autonomy.
All this being said, what then is the future of the tesla company in technological terms?
Tesla at its core, is all about the Software!
The future is an ability to have vehicles that are completely Autonomous. Level V autonomy is the holy grail of futuristic technology, something every Sci-Fi movie has had for years, but until lately, not within our grasp. Vehicles that can operate independently of a human operator will not only change the way a car is considered financially; since it could act as a business, but it will dramatically lower vehicle related deaths per year.
Software is the name of the game, and Tesla is objectively years ahead; at least 5 years by most accounts. Over-the-Air (OTA) updates to the vehicles on what now seem to be a regular basis, improve everything from Automatic Wiper functionality, to substantial performance increases on the order of 5% (24) horsepower for the Model 3.
Many have made the argument that other vehicles software and firmware get updated upon going to dealer for service, which therein lies the fault in that premise. Having to go to a dealer in order to have something updated relating to software, is like purposefully buying a mobile phone from the year 2000.
Our vehicles should at least have the standard capability to remotely update, to the extent of what the general public considers normal with the advent of modern smart phones!
Relying on a dealer’s timeframe for updates seems to be a step backwards, instead of giant leaps forward. For Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption to become the forefront of new vehicle sales in the future, legacy automotive manufacturers need to get with the times.
This is where the heart of the company lies. The ability to remotely update any feature (besides the tires and other obvious constraints), is at the core of what has made them so successful.
P.S. While I appreciate the effort many of the legacy automotive manufacturers have made into EV production, they are often just compliance cars to fit the regulatory requirement, or a concept car is produced which never goes into production.
Next Reads:
Top 10 Must Have Tesla Model 3 Accessories
Future Communication Technology Predictions (Beyond AR and VR Technology)
My name is Michael Hodges. I am a U.S. Navy veteran, and currently work in the Aviation industry. You can connect with me on Twitter @InSpaceXItrust
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