There’s a viral video out there of a Tesla Model X on Summon crashing into a $3.5 million jet. It’s unclear how/why someone could do such a thing, or let such a collision take place, but nonetheless, this is an edge case for Tesla that could help the company’s AI learn and prevent any such accidents in the future.
It’s not every day a driver crosses paths with an aircraft. The Verge reported that it happened at an event sponsored by Cirrus at Felts Field in Spokane, Washington. The video was originally shared in the r/flying subreddit, and it looks as though it was captured by security cameras.
One thing Teslarati noted that I didn’t see other articles pointing out was that it’s not exactly known when the vehicle was manufactured, and also there was no real explanation as to why it didn’t stop before it reached the jet. Also, as many members of the Tesla community have noted, it appears that the part of the aircraft that the Model X hit was not on the road but in the air and barely low enough to be nudged by the Model X. That doesn’t mean that the Model X should have driven into it, but it’s certainly a true edge case.
Tesla driver not paying attention smart summons car under plane 🤦
C’mon guys, don’t be this stupid please. Also, we need the new full stack version or smart summon powered by FSD Beta ASAP @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/xeWKzSwGWO
— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) April 22, 2022
I find it really strange that the owner of the vehicle didn’t seem to notice the jet in the path of the Model X, or the car being so close to the jet. However, @WholeMarsCatalog points out that at least this will make Tesla’s software “more robust against crazy future situations.”
Tesla is learning about planes in the middle of the road while ford blue’s clues is still trying to handle curves on the highway
— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) April 22, 2022
The Verge went on to mention a couple of not-so-positive reports about Tesla, FSD, and Smart Summon, but I didn’t see any references to stories of how this technology has helped make lives easier and even saved some as well. Teslarati pointed to an experiment by Kevin Rooke, who has extensively tested his Tesla’s Summon feature in various ways. The video below shows Kevin’s test with a shopping cart. The vehicle handled the test pretty well.
Let’s not forget, while I was waiting on an Uber a year ago, I saw Smart Summon in action during a sudden summer storm. I didn’t get to talk with the Tesla owner, but I did grab some video and you can watch the vehicle smoothly navigate the rainy weather and other cars while being summoned to its owner. (Note: I was stranded and Uber was telling me that there were no cars available. However, I was eventually able to get one and had to wait a while, which provided me the perfect opportunity to grab this video.)
Finally managed to get an Uber—30 min wait but got to see a Model 3 owner use summon in this crazy storm.
Idk the guy so I didn’t ask him for a ride. Lol. pic.twitter.com/2XAPqiDS1a
— Johnna Crider (@JohnnaCrider1) April 14, 2021
Don’t let this viral video of a Tesla bumping into a jet fool you into thinking that all Teslas crash into airplanes now. It’s a truly odd edge case, and I agree with Whole Mars that it will make the technology even better.
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