Tesla’s next-generation Tesla Vision system can detect imminent crashes milliseconds before impact to improve passenger safety.
Tesla is preparing to roll out an upgraded version of its Tesla Vision system designed to detect potential crashes moments before they happen, giving the vehicle extra time to protect passengers during an accident.
The automaker says the new technology is aimed at reducing injuries in collisions by using the cameras already mounted around Tesla vehicles to identify an incoming impact before physical contact occurs.
According to Tesla, the latest version of Tesla Vision can trigger critical safety features fractions of a second earlier than conventional systems. That advance could make a major difference in real-world crashes.
Traditional automotive safety systems, including seatbelt pretensioners and airbags, typically rely on physical impact sensors positioned in areas such as bumpers and crumple zones. By the time those sensors activate, occupants may have already started moving inside the cabin.
Tesla’s updated camera-based system works differently. It can recognize an approaching collision just milliseconds before impact. The company says the technology can provide up to 70 milliseconds of additional response time.
That extra window allows the vehicle to begin tightening seatbelts and deploying airbags earlier, potentially improving occupant protection and increasing the chances of surviving a serious crash.
The feature will come standard on all newly produced Tesla vehicles. Existing Tesla models equipped with the company’s camera system will also receive the technology through a free over-the-air software update.