When Tesla introduced the Model 3, it equipped the car with a standard camera in the rearview mirror, which was facing the passenger compartment. Almost 3 years have passed since the company sent the car to production, and this camera, which is included in the mandatory package for all Model 3, remained unused.
Tesla has not yet implemented a feature that uses this camera, but in a software update it was once mentioned that it is associated with an autopilot and a certain Tesla Network, which is supposed to become a new fleet of robotics managed by the company.
There is an assumption that Tesla can use the camera to control the driver’s attention when using autopilot (hence the reference to the autopilot in software), as well as control passengers in the general fleet of self-propelled cars to prevent vandalism (hence the reference to the Tesla Network).
Last year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the camera will be activated along with the launch of the Robotaxi fleet. Now the head has confirmed that her main purpose is to prevent vandalism from passengers when they are transported by cars:
Correct
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 12, 2020
The idea is that the camera will record the interior during trips of cars included in the Tesla Network, so that there are no unnecessary problems. Interestingly, the public also got their first glimpse of the camera’s viewing angle thanks to the developers at Tesla:
The mystery of the model3 in-cabin “selfie” cam is slowly clearing.
huge thanks to @davidhooperr for performing a bunch of research and providing the car.
The images are not perfect but at least we get the idea of the coverage now. pic.twitter.com/r447lQZX8u
– green (@greentheonly) April 12, 2020
The camera provides a decent wide-angle view of the entire Tesla Model 3 interior. And although we now know the exact use of the camera, which the company provided for initially, other possible uses are being studied. In the past, Mr. Musk mentioned that he was not opposed to the idea of using a camera to allow drivers and passengers to record themselves when using the new Karaoke feature added in the V10 update.
Also last year, Tesla filed a patent application that describes the recognition of passengers and the automatic personalization of settings for them – a camera can also be used for this. It is also suggested that Tesla realized the possibility of using the camera to protect against burglars that unauthorizedly penetrate the car interior. And, of course, there remains room for the good old paranoia.
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