Toronto, Ontario – Tesla is removing ultrasonic sensors (USS) from its Model 3 and Model Y vehicle lines, a change with strong implications for third-party repairers.
According to a press release released on Wednesday, Tesla announced that USS functionality would be replaced by the vision-based occupancy network –a sensor suite in the Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta which relies on camera-based input to assist the driver.
However, the press release does not elaborate on the details of updated calibration guidelines or how the changes will impact calibration procedures.
This comes at a time where OEMs face greater scrutiny for a lack of transparency regarding ADAS technology, calibration and technicalities that directly affect consumer safety and third-party reparability.
While most ADAS systems employ a combination of cameras, radar, and LIDAR systems, experts say that OEMs are streamlining towards LIDAR-oriented systems instead of radar or cameras.
“In the future, [you’ll see OEMs] shifting toward all LIDAR,” Dave Marion, the national sales/training manager for Launch Tech told attendees at a recent Driven Brands ADAS event.
Since 2021, tesla transitioned to Tesla vision by removing radar sensors on the Model 3, Y, S and X ranges. It now plans to remove USS from these four vehicles by 2024.
If you work with ADAS systems or ADAS calibration, we’d love to hear your experience with OEMs – how well are these changes communicated, and how does it affect your job? Leave a comment below, or message kate@mediamatters.ca to get in touch.
