[AutonomousVehicles] Tesla Must Send Autopilot Data to Feds by October 22

[Cornelius Butler]

Hi Committee Members,
Tesla must provide autopilot data to the federal government by October 22,
2021 on crashes with emergency vehicles. I'm providing the article link and
text below.

Article Link:
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a37465030/tesla-autopilot-data-nhtsa-october-22-investigation/

Article Text:

Tesla Must Send Autopilot Data to Feds by October 22
NHTSA is investigating 12 incidents in which Teslas crashed into parked
emergency vehicles, looking at how much the Autopilot driver-assist system
was involved.

BY ANNIE WHITE
SEP 2, 2021

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has requested a
wide-ranging set of data from Tesla regarding its Autopilot driver
assistance system as the government agency pushes forward with its
investigation into Autopilot-involved crashes. NHTSA is currently looking
into a handful of crashes in which Teslas, apparently operating with
Autopilot engaged, crashed into parked emergency vehicles and caused
injuries or other damage. Tesla has until October 22 to hand over the data,
which includes details on which of the vehicles it has sold are equipped
with Autopilot as well as the system's operating parameters.

In a public document that was also sent directly to Tesla, NHTSA asks the
company to provide a list of every Tesla outfitted with the company's
self-driving tech, including which hardware and software versions the car
uses, as well as information on every crash the company is aware of
involving a vehicle equipped with Autopilot. NHTSA has also asked for
precise details of Autopilot's operating limits, including the maximum
steering angle and maximum rates of acceleration and braking. The document
also requests details about how the Autopilot system interacts with the
driver, including a list of situations that would cause the system to
disengage, and details of how and when driver inputs can override the
Autopilot functions.

The NHTSA investigation is focused on 12 crashes between Teslas and stopped
emergency vehicles. When the investigation launched a few weeks ago, only
11 crashes were under investigation. But a collision between a Model 3 and
a highway patrol car in Orlando, Florida last Saturday became the 12th
crash on NHTSA's list. The owner of the Model 3 claimed Autopilot was
engaged at the time of the crash.

If NHTSA determines in its investigation that Tesla's Autopilot system is
unsafe, it could compel the company to recall cars or repair them to
correct any safety defects. NHTSA has estimated that any such fix could
impact up to 765,000 Teslas built between 2014 and 2021.

Tesla appears unperturbed by the investigation. The company's CEO, Elon
Musk, said this week via Twitter that Tesla is preparing to release a new
version of its so-called Full Self Driving (FSD) software, an even more
ambitious driver-assistance system, to a group of Tesla owners who act as
test subjects for new versions of the FSD software. Musk even hinted that
the FSD software could be made widely available via an opt-in button within
the next few weeks, though it wouldn't be the first time he'd changed his
mind on that score. Tesla owners pay $10,000 for FSD capability, or can
choose to pay a monthly rate of $199 instead.
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