Tesla Motors further carries the Level 5 Autonomous Flag

Last Wednesday night, Tesla issued a statement. Many of us held our breath, waiting to discover what was in their sleeves. Will it be the rumored Model Y, the crossover version of Model X? A car built on the same platform as Model 3 meets people's huge demand for affordable electric cars?

As I scoured my familiar landing spots to watch their announcement, I found nothing.

No video. No presentation.

No pomp. No hype.

Eventually I learned the big announcement wasn’t a new vehicle.

With Tesla’s new autonomous technology, eight surround cameras provide 360 degrees of visibility up to 250 meters. Twelve updated ultrasonic sensors detect both hard and soft objects at nearly twice the distance of Tesla’s prior system. Forward-facing radar with enhanced processing provides additional data on a redundant wavelength, meaning it can see through heavy rain, fog, dust, and even the car ahead. Photo: Tesla Motors.

Defining Boundaries

Life Changing Implications

Defining Boundaries

Going forward, all Tesla models will be equipped to accommodate level 5 autonomous driving. My first reaction was one of disappointment, because I was anticipating a new vehicle rollout. But once I wrapped my brain around this announcement and considered the implications, my disappointment converted to enthusiasm. I was not merely enthused because I could benefit from owning an autonomous vehicle, or take a driverless Uber through town, but the implications were far more wide reaching.

Level 5 autonomy means that, other than setting the destination and starting the vehicle, no other human intervention is required. And even though operating a vehicle under current laws without human interaction is illegal, Tesla is pushing the envelope and forcing autonomous driving vehicles to become a reality.

So far, the autonomous vehicle experience has been one constrained by human safety concerns and overall distrust of the systems, that by most accounts, are more reliable than typical humans at the wheel. We witness Advanced Driver Assist Systems on many cars today, an array of technology that senses oncoming hazards and aids the driver with alerts and braking in the name of collision avoidance.

But manufacturers have yet to unleash a fleet of cars that can operate autonomously.

Tesla, however, has been bold in all of its steps and this one should be no surprise. And the implications are more significant than I had allowed myself to consider. My mind has been in the area where it would be convenient to have a robot driving while I update my Facebook, text friends, and capture Pokemon.

Yes, neat, but not exactly a need. Although, I recently learned of a story that upgrades my reaction from neat to awesome!

Tesla Auto Pilot. Photo: Tesla Motors

Life Changing Implications

What shook my perception was when the State of Nevada issued a limited use driver’s license to former Indycar racer Sam Schmidt. Schmidt was paralyzed from the neck down in a violent car crash while racing 15 years ago. Since then, he has had no ability to pilot a car, which was not only his freedom, but his passion. Now, since autonomous driving technology has advanced so much, Schmidt is able to sit in the driver’s seat and experience some freedom again.

Sam’s license is limited to Nevada and requires he have a pilot car ahead of him as well as a licensed driver next to him to take over when problems arise, but he can technically drive. And because he is a former racecar driver, he is an obvious choice to initiate such a possibility, but with all of the implications of autonomous vehicles, this is a first step.

It won’t be long before people previously incapacitated will have much more freedom and mobility.

Once I started thinking about the implications of Tesla’s announcement in these terms, I could no longer be disappointed that it wasn’t an new model to fawn over. The announcement means Tesla is not merely making technology available in their cars, but forcing the conversation and cultural adoption of autonomy. This is important because the technology will arrive before people are willing to accept it en masse. These bold steps by innovative and courageous pioneers will eventually bring this technology to the norm.

Jerry Mooney is a Language and Communications Professor at the College of Idaho and the author of History Yoghurt & the Moon. Follow him on Twitter: @JerryMooney

Photo, video, and data source: Tesla Motors