Tesla upgrades Autopilot

Tesla has released its biggest software and infotainment update since the Model S was released in 2012, bringing 200 improvements to its controversial Autopilot system.

First announced earlier this month and available to all Models S and Model X owners – including in Australia within weeks -- the over-the-air software 8.0 update also revamps the 17-inch touch-screen interface of both Tesla models, and comes after vulnerabilities were discovered by a Chinese security company.

The biggest changes relate to Tesla's autonomous driving system, which was criticised recently after a series of accidents for which it was accused of being responsible, including the death of a Chinese man who collided with a street sweeper in January and the death of an American who collided with a semi-trailer in May.

Both fatalities occurred while Autopilot was alleged engaged and both accidents remain under investigation.

The move also follows a public spat between its former tech partner Mobileye, which supplies cameras to the US car-maker but disparaged the safety of Autopilot after learning Tesla was developing its own vision system.

Earlier this month Mobileye chairman Amnon Shashua told Reuters the company had broken ties with Tesla because Autopilot was “pushing the envelope in terms of safety".

Tesla responded by telling Fortune.com that Mobileye “attempted to force Tesla to discontinue this development, pay them more and use their products in future hardware".

“When Tesla refused to cancel its own vision development activities and plans for deployment, Mobileye discontinued hardware support for future platforms and released public statements implying that this discontinuance was motivated by safety concerns,” said a Tesla spokesperson.

Tesla claims its updated Autopilot system will reduce accidents in its vehicles by up to half, saying: "Tesla makes the only cars on the road that continue to get safer, smarter, and more capable over time, thanks to free, over-the-air software updates.

"With continual updates, our vehicles continue to evolve and progress the functionality, giving customers better experience over time.

"The new UI shows a dedication to making our cars safer and increasingly functional."

With software update 8.0, Autopilot now relies heavily on the on-board radar that was previously used as a supplementary sensor to the primary camera and image processing system, which was installed as part of a hardware upgrade in 2014.

Tesla says advances in signal processing now allow the system to better detect angled vehicles as they enter a turn, while Autosteer can now navigate highway interchanges and more clearly indicates when it is engaged.

Notably, an "enhanced safety requirement" has been added, which disables Autosteer when safety warnings are ignored and drivers keep their hands off the wheel.

In addition, Tesla says Autopilot is now more responsive and smoother in stop-go traffic, and can now cope with two cars ahead, "improving reaction time to otherwise-invisible heavy braking events", and "car offsets in lane when overtaking a slower vehicle driving close to its lane edge".

Apart from Autopilot, improvements to Tesla's, navigation, voice control and media player systems result in a "safer, more advanced driving experience", it says.

And, in what's claimed to be an industry-first safety measure made possible by its "uniquely large battery packs", Tesla has also introduced Cabin Overheat Protection, when prevents children and pets baking by keeping vehicle at a safe temperature, even when switched off.