Tesla owner implants key in arm
If you thought Mazda RX-7 enthusiasts were eccentric, check this out!A young woman in the USA has implanted the RFID chip used to unlock and drive her 2018 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle (EV) into her arm.
It is possible to unlock and drive a Tesla in many ways, including via smartphone app, but Amie DD decided on something more permanent, forging a unique connection with her car.
She will also never have to wrack her memory, retrace her steps or call roadside assist due to misplaced car keys. Handy!
The Nissan Bluebird/Maxima from the early 1990s had a six-button PIN coder on the door, as did several Ford vehicles including the Taurus sedan and Explorer SUV. But proximity keys that allow keyless entry and starting are very much the norm for new cars today.
Model 3 owner Amie, who has several RFID chip inserts in her body, had been working on her Tesla 'bio chip implant hack' project for around 12 months, video and blog posts of which were published on Hackaday.io.
It started with removing the RFID chip from her Tesla Model 3 valet card (a pass card used to unlock and start the car) using solvents, then encasing the small chip – about half the size of a stamp – in a biopolymer to ensure longevity once embedded under her skin.
She then had the chip inserted into her wrist via a large hollow needle and although the video doesn't show her using the system (due to swelling at the site of the implant), she recently Tweeted that it now works.
"Why didn't I post a video of the chip working with my car the day I got it? 1. I was at @defcon this weekend! 2. My arm was swollen right after (none of my other chip implants read the first few days). I may have upgrades but unfortunately my body still heals at a human rate lol!"
She later posted: "Yes it works!! My video wizard is coming over to record this week!"
At the time of writing the video had generated 125,000 views in four days. The video is somewhat graphic and comes with the warning: "Prepare thy self: THERE is blood in this video! This is part of my Tesla Model 3 chip implant hack."
Some of the comments suggested Amie DD was a fool, arguing that a ring with the Tesla-coded chip would have worked, while others applauded her efforts.
Either way, she will no doubt inspire others to attempt similar augmentations. Check out the somewhat confronting video here (warning: contains graphic content).
The Tesla Model 3 is now on sale in Australia priced from $66,000, offering between 460km and 620km of driving range depending on the model.
Tesla vehicles have a unique appeal and offer unique features, such as video games and Netflix streaming via its infotainment system.
Stay tuned for our first local drive of the Tesla Model 3.
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