Tesla can now detect if Autopilot cheating devices are being used in Autopilot. After the owner turns on Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta, Tesla asks the owner to put his or her hands on the steering wheel.
It’s just that Tesla’s current models are not equipped with special sensors to detect whether the owner is actually putting his hands on the steering wheel. Tesla’s current models can only detect if the steering wheel is rotating, so Tesla requires owners to adjust the steering wheel frequently after turning on Autopilot mode.
This vulnerability has also given rise to various cheating tools. The NHTSA even had to intervene to ban the sale of such devices.
Tesla is now trying to solve this problem directly by way of a software update. Teslascope has found code in the latest version of FSD that will force Autopilot to shut down if a cheating device is detected.
Since the technology is still in beta and undoubtedly dangerous if drivers aren’t paying attention, Tesla is working to find ways to try to ensure that drivers actually keep their hands on the wheel and are ready to take control.
