Soon Attend Video-Conferences While Driving, Elon Musk Confirms Use Of In-Cabin Camera In Tesla
The cabin-facing camera has been installed in the Teslas to offer native video conferencing at some point later. Tesla is expected to roll out the feature as a software update at a later date.
At the time of its launch, Tesla Model 3 came with an in-car camera that faced the occupants of the car. At the time, the functionality of the camera was not really clear and it has since remained dormant in every model. Not for long though, as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has finally confirmed its purpose.
The cabin-facing camera has been installed in the Teslas to offer native video conferencing at some point later. Since the hardware is already there, Tesla is expected to roll out the feature as a software update at a later date.
As per a report by Electrek, a software update once referred to the camera as a part of Autopilot and ¡°Tesla Network,¡± Tesla¡¯s ultimate goal of self-driving robotaxis operated by Tesla itself, an autonomous version of Uber if you will.
Tesla Model 3 Cabin Camera (Image: Tesla)
If so, the cabin-facing camera can also be used to monitor the driver¡¯s attention when the vehicle is on Autopilot. A similar use case can be found to monitor passengers in a shared fleet of self-driving cars, justifying the reference to the Tesla Network.
Overtime, Elon Musk has hinted at several such functions for the camera. While it has been confirmed that it will be used to prevent people from vandalizing cars in a robotaxi fleet, the camera¡¯s use as a video conferencing tool is newfound and seems to be definitive.
Musk mentioned the same on Twitter recently, stating that the use of the cabin-facing camera in a Tesla for video-conferencing is ¡°definitely a future feature.¡±
Yeah, definitely a future feature
¡ª Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 5, 2020
Rightfully so, as with the COVID 19 pandemic having changed the entire fabric of corporate culture, has brought video conferencing to the forefront. If there is a way to conduct the same while driving safely, it is easy to note that Tesla has everything in place to make that work. An Autopilot mode, a cabin-facing camera and what not.
Another noted advantage of the camera can also be personalised settings. The report by Electrek mentions that the company went for a patent called ¡°Personalization System and Method for a Vehicle based on Spatial Locations of Occupants¡¯. As per the patent, Tesla engineers are looking at a way to use the camera to recognise occupants and then automatically change settings of the vehicle as set by the identified user. Too cool to be true? Not for a Tesla.
