Understanding Tesla Vision Technology in FSD

Exploring the technology behind Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is a fascinating journey. From the intricate data pipelines that automate labeling to the advanced universal translator that enables mapping on different hardware, we have delved into various aspects of Tesla’s cutting-edge technology. In this installment, we will uncover the innovative approach of Tesla Vision in perceiving the world.

While competitors rely on expensive hardware and complex sensor-fusion solutions to tackle challenges in measuring distance and processing visual information, Tesla takes a different path. Through two patent applications, Tesla’s unique method of handling these fundamental problems becomes evident.

One of the key patents, titled “Estimating Object Properties Using Visual Image Data,” sheds light on Tesla’s decision to primarily rely on vision instead of LiDAR for FSD. The core strategy involves creating a vast training dataset compiled from millions of miles driven by customers and validation engineering vehicles. By leveraging auxiliary sensors on validation vehicles to provide precise ground-truth measurements of distance and velocity, Tesla trains its FSD vision neural network to infer depth and velocity from 2D images with remarkable accuracy.

Furthermore, Tesla’s approach to managing the extensive data from multiple high-resolution cameras is highlighted in another patent titled “Enhanced Object Detection for Autonomous Vehicles Based on Field of View.” By identifying a priority field of view in the image and processing high-resolution crops of important sections while analyzing lower-resolution versions of the rest, Tesla achieves a balance between computational efficiency and detailed object detection.

These innovative solutions not only showcase Tesla’s commitment to vision-based autonomy but also underline the company’s focus on developing a unified and scalable software stack for autonomous driving.

For more insights into Tesla’s FSD technology, we recommend exploring our full series on related patents:

• How FSD Works Part 1

• How FSD Works Part 2

• How FSD Works Part 4 (this article)

• Tesla’s Universal AI Translator

• How Tesla Optimizes FSD

• How Tesla Will Label Data with AI