It appears Tesla is changing course. Boss Elon Musk has said on numerous occasions that Tesla's Full Self Driving software will not use radar to progress. Instead, the brand's rival to Mercedes' Drive Pilot will use cameras exclusively. Or so we thought. Now, that might be changing, as new filings indicate.
Right now, we're not sure what application this is for. It could just as well be for Tesla Model S radar sensors as it could anything else. Regardless, the point is this Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing is for a radar device, as clearly indicated by a label (just under the Tesla logo).
Moreover, this isn't the first backtrack on the brand's anti-radar stance. Tesla has indicated it's testing a new 4D radar imaging with twice the range of existing radar. Perhaps sufficient advancements in radar tech could be enough to make the company change course. It's certainly something that has worked for other manufacturers. Mercedes' active cruise control uses both sensors, in addition to a HUD to let you know what your EQS or other model is up to.
The filing was leaked via Twitter, and it already has some FSD users a little worried. Those users are worried that if Tesla upgrades to new radar and camera sensors for its Autopilot and FSD software, their pricey EVs will lag behind. It's a justified concern, seeing as the switch to radar will necessitate the installation of physical parts. No over-the-air software update will add that to any existing FSD-equipped car.
Should Tesla head in this direction, we imagine it will cause a stir among customers. How would you feel about paying more than $12,000 for the brand's Full Self Driving software only to find it was going to be outdated in the next few years? Supra owners will know the feeling. Toyota extracted far more power from 2021 Supras than the 2020 models, and those people were understandably feeling left out.
It'll be a while before we learn more. After digging through the FCC filings, we found a confidentiality request from Tesla. That request likely means the FCC won't be saying much about what's going on with Tesla's radar device. For now, we'll have to wait for Tesla to announce some changes, likely via Musk on Twitter.