If you lot practise a quick YouTube search, you'll see dozens of videos of Tesla Model S owners driving around apart. Tesla recently released a software update – it's and so foreign saying that nearly a machine – for its Model S that gives the car democratic driving functionality. Tesla owner, Elon Musk, has claimed that this applied science is in beta grade and is currently using Model South owners every bit guinea pigs for the software's quirks and bugs. He didn't say information technology quite like that, but it's basically what's happening.

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In many of the same owner videos, y'all'll come across people doing all sorts of crazy things, similar being in the back seat, while no one is in the forepart, and having the car drive on its own. While that'due south fun and all, that could have easily killed someone and is i of the least intelligent things I've ever seen done inside of an auto. But there dozens of videos similar this of people playing around with the Model South' Autopilot role. In Tesla's defense force, information technology's since added actress security measures to insure things similar this don't happen anymore.

Tesla'due south Autopilot function is yet in beta form and shouldn't exist used as a toy. Which is exactly why BMW won't be releasing total autonomous driving technology until BMW is sure that it works perfectly. According to BMW CEO, Harald Krüger, "We can offer automatic driving on the throughway upward to 120 kilometers per hour," to which he continued "But our technology must exist 100 percent reliable." This is a refreshingly responsible approach to this sort of applied science. Instead of the metaphorical fist-pumping to come from Tesla about being the first to have fully autonomous driving capabilities on the road, BMW is waiting until information technology can be sure that the tech is 100 pct safety.

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"In the app industry, you tin launch products on the market that are 70 to 80 percent ready and then complete their development with the customer," said Kruger, "That is absolutely impossible with prophylactic features in a car."

And he'due south right. Tesla's Autopilot system has many bugs and quirks in it, being that information technology's still in beta course. Its customers are aware of this and know that there could be some hazards to using information technology, merely telling customers that there's an autopilot system on the car but to only use it in perfect weather is like giving a child matches and telling them not to burn down the house downwards. They probably won't burn the business firm downwards, but it'southward likely something bad is going to happen.

Tesla's Autopilot system is not bad, don't go me wrong, and is incredibly impressive from a engineering science standpoint, but it shouldn't be released to the public even so. In BMW's, Mercedes-Benz's and Audi's systems, the driver must have a mitt on the steering wheel, or at least bear on it every ten seconds or then, or else the vehicle volition automatically come up to a safe stop so every bit to non endanger anyone'southward life. In Tesla'south system, no such safeguard is required, which allows drivers to get into the back seat while its moving. That's funny and interesting, merely what if something happens that the motorcar can't account for on its own, how is the commuter going to become back into the driver's seat and regain control of the motorcar in fourth dimension? They wouldn't be able to and someone could die. That's the reality of that.

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Likewise, Tesla'south autopilot system tin can't account for traffic lights. This is no problem if in that location are cars in front end of information technology, as it can just follow the leading automobile, but if information technology's the showtime car in a lane and a traffic low-cal turns cherry-red, the Model S volition run the light unless the driver takes over. How much fun would that be if you're not paying attention? Or, during its automatic lane change function, where the drive only operates the plough signal and the motorcar safely changes lanes when it tin can, if there aren't clear lane markers the auto volition but proceed on shifting over until information technology finds one, which tin be problematic.

So for BMW, there volition be no 'beta testing' with its autonomous functions, at least not to the public. "It starts with automatic parking without the driver at the bicycle, which nosotros already offer today in our new BMW 7 series version. The next step volition be that you become out of the automobile in front of the parking garage and the car then looks for a space itself and parks," says Kruger, "It will proceed with automated driving on the motorway."

While there are many detractors to what Kruger is saying, challenge that there'due south no mode to implement an autonomous driving function that's 100 per centum reliable without public testing, he and BMW are doing the right thing. Beta testing works great for technology such as apps, video games and more than, but people can't die when beta testing apps. Beta testing an autonomous driving function in the public can literally cost lives and BMW understands that better than Tesla, information technology seems.