Tesla to Upgrade FSD Visualizations with Unreal Engine

Recent discoveries in Tesla’s firmware builds suggest a significant technical shift in the works for the company. According to renowned Tesla hacker Greentheonly, Tesla is gearing up to enhance its Autopilot and FSD visualizations by switching to the powerful Unreal Engine.

Although the feature is not yet active, it is already integrated into the firmware of Model S and Model X vehicles equipped with MCU 3 (AMD). Tesla is making the switch from the open-source Godot engine to Unreal Engine, a renowned engine in the video game industry.

Let’s delve into what this upgrade entails and which vehicles are expected to benefit from it in the future.

Unleashing the Power of Unreal Engine

Tesla’s current FSD visualizations rely on the lightweight and efficient Godot Engine, suitable for displaying simple yet functional vehicle models and objects. The transition to Unreal Engine is expected to bring about more detailed visualizations due to Unreal Engine’s reputation for high-fidelity graphics and photorealistic environments.

While Unreal Engine may impact performance, Tesla’s decision to make the switch indicates a commitment to enhancing the visualizations and maps of its vehicles significantly.

Enhanced Visuals in Action

The capabilities of Unreal Engine extend beyond Autopilot and FSD visualizations. Early indications in the firmware hint at improved visuals, with Greentheonly managing to activate a more detailed vehicle model.

The new model boasts smoother and better-lit features compared to the current version. Tesla’s incremental approach to incorporating existing models and objects into Unreal Engine suggests a transition towards cleaner, more realistic visualizations with enhanced lighting.

Anticipated Improvements

Elon Musk hinted at adding 3D terrain to Tesla’s visualizations back in 2022, a concept already visible in Cybertruck visualizations. However, the current visualizations lack representation of various recognized objects, such as speed bumps and traffic cones.

By embracing Unreal Engine, Tesla aims to provide more detailed, realistic, and contextually relevant visualizations to enhance the overall driving experience.

Embracing Realism for Trust

One of the primary goals of the visualization graphics upgrade is to build driver trust by offering a more immersive and accurate representation of the vehicle’s surroundings. Tesla’s move towards Unreal Engine signifies a strategic shift towards rendering a more faithful visual environment to aid driver understanding and decision-making.

While the addition of new models and objects is expected, Tesla’s focus remains on delivering accurate and beneficial visualizations to enhance the driving experience without causing distractions.

Hardware Considerations

The transition to Unreal Engine may necessitate a more powerful infotainment unit, potentially limiting the upgrade to AMD-based vehicles. Intel vehicles might be constrained to their current visualizations unless Tesla introduces a new MCU in the future.

While the switch to Unreal Engine is a work in progress, Tesla’s active development suggests a potential introduction in upcoming UI updates or holiday releases.