Tesla’s high-tech technology gets a big blow, drivers are cheating autopilot with doll’s head

New Delhi.Tesla’s self-driving technology is counted among the most advanced automobile technologies in the world. The company’s driver monitoring system and artificial intelligence based safety system constantly keeps an eye on whether the person driving is paying attention to the road or not. But some drivers in China have found a way to circumvent this high-tech system, which has raised the concern of technical experts and security agencies.

According to reports, many Tesla drivers in China are fitting plastic doll heads inside their cars near the rear view mirror. This doll’s head is placed in front of Tesla’s in-cabin camera in such a way that the car’s AI system considers it to be a real and alert driver. The vehicle’s driver monitoring system then assumes that the driver is fully active and keeping an eye on the road.

In fact, Tesla’s autopilot and full self-driving features are not completely autonomous. While using them, it is mandatory for the driver to remain alert and take control of the vehicle immediately if needed. For this purpose, the company has developed a driver monitoring system which monitors the driver’s eye movements and head direction. If the system senses the driver is not paying attention, it issues a warning and can even limit the Autopilot feature if needed.

In China, such doll heads are being sold rapidly on online platforms, whose price is said to be between 10 to 50 dollars. Many videos are also going viral on social media in which people are seen confusing Tesla’s AI system by using plastic heads in the shape of famous personalities. Through this trick, some drivers are seen relying on autopilot while paying less attention to driving during long journeys.

Experts believe that this trend can prove to be extremely dangerous. Tesla’s technology may be state-of-the-art but it still depends on human monitoring. The vehicle may not always be able to take the right decision in case of unexpected situations on the road. At such times, it is very important for the driver to be active and alert. If the driver is distracted, the risk of an accident can increase manifold.

At present Tesla has not given any official response on this matter. However, technical experts believe that the company can make its AI system more advanced in future through over the air i.e. OTA updates so that such tricks can be stopped. This incident has emerged as a big challenge not only for Tesla but for the entire automobile industry because it raises the question of how effective AI-based security systems are in the face of human ingenuity.

This case once again proves that no matter how advanced the technology is, its success ultimately depends on responsible users. If safety rules are ignored, even modern technology will not be able to completely prevent accidents.