Tag: HW3

  • Older HW3 Teslas Can’t Use New 360-Degree Sentry Mode Feature

    Older HW3 Teslas Can’t Use New 360-Degree Sentry Mode Feature

    Key Takeaways

    1. Tesla cars with Hardware 3.0 (HW3) are getting the new Dashcam Viewer feature in the 2025.14 Spring Release update.
    2. Enhanced Sentry mode features are not available for older HW3 vehicles due to resource limitations.
    3. Even HW3 vehicles with the faster Ryzen FSD processor cannot access the new 360-degree Sentry mode.
    4. The Dashcam Viewer provides improvements like a grid view with four camera feeds and quicker previews of Sentry footage.
    5. The Cybertruck, equipped with the AI4 kit, also lacks the B-pillar camera update for Sentry mode, with further updates expected later this year.


    Tesla cars equipped with the old Hardware 3.0 (HW3) system, which makes up the majority of their fleet on the roads, are receiving the new Dashcam Viewer feature through the 2025.14 Spring Release update.

    Limited Features for Older Models

    The upgraded Sentry mode, which offers enhanced video surveillance, cannot be utilized on older HW3 vehicles. This is due to the lack of resources needed to manage the additional video feeds from the B-pillar cameras, which would allow Sentry mode to provide a full 360-degree surveillance experience. Instead of opting for an external dash camera solution, like Vantrue, Tesla has chosen to limit these features to newer models that use the HW4 system, now referred to as AI4.

    FSD Computer and New Features

    Even HW3 vehicles that are equipped with the quicker Ryzen processor for their FSD computer aren’t able to access the new 360-degree Sentry mode feature. But they will enjoy the new Dashcam Viewer, which enhances the display with improvements, like a grid view that shows four camera feeds simultaneously and quicker previews of Sentry footage in 15-second intervals.

    Cybertruck’s Unique Position

    Interestingly, the Cybertruck, which boasts the latest AI4 kit, also misses out on the B-pillar camera update for Sentry mode. Being a taller vehicle, it appears that Tesla might require more time to develop a comprehensive 360-degree surveillance system for it. Cybertrucks have been targets of vandalism even prior to Elon Musk’s involvement with the federal government, which created some negative perceptions of the Tesla brand. Therefore, it’s likely that the HW4-exclusive upgrades for Sentry mode will be rolled out to the Cybertruck through an OTA update later this year.

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  • Tesla to Cut Insurance Costs for FSD with Automatic Reverse Feature

    Tesla to Cut Insurance Costs for FSD with Automatic Reverse Feature

    Elon Musk has made a commitment that Tesla will upgrade all HW3 computers in its older vehicles at no cost if they can’t run the new FSD 13 update in the promised unsupervised mode later this year. He has now mentioned a key step towards achieving that aim.

    Upcoming Features for Older Tesla Models

    Tesla cars equipped with the older Hardware 3.0 computers and cameras, which includes the majority of Tesla vehicles, will soon gain the ability to reverse into parking spots just like the HW4 models running FSD 13 already can. The FSD screen now even displays the reverse path, making the release of this feature just a matter of time.

    This reversing capability has been notably absent in the older Tesla models with HW3 computers. Elon humorously suggested that this situation must be quite stressful for the AI in his electric cars.

    Current Limitations and Future Improvements

    As it stands now, HW3 Teslas can utilize FSD to navigate and position themselves in front of a parking space, but the driver still needs to manually shift into reverse. This requirement adds to the FSD disengagement figures, and Tesla needs to enhance these stats for compliance reasons if it hopes to launch unsupervised FSD this year or the Robotaxi next year, as claimed.

    However, Tesla appears confident that it has mastered the complexities of autonomous driving. Recently, Elon Musk indicated that FSD will statistically be safer than human drivers within the next three months. While Musk is known for extending deadlines, Tesla is prepping for this possibility by considering reduced insurance rates for those who use FSD more frequently.

    Enhancements to Safety Score Feature

    A recent code decompile of Tesla’s iPhone app has revealed references to an update for the Safety Score feature. Currently, it only tracks the miles driven on FSD or Autopilot, but future updates will reportedly calculate these metrics in ratios and percentages.

    Tesla owners who allow FSD to handle a greater portion of their driving will likely receive a higher Safety Score, which could lead to lower insurance costs.

    At this time, these benefits would apply only to Tesla’s insurance, which is accessible directly through the app and available in a limited number of states. However, this may signal future changes if regulators become familiar with the data and validate Elon’s assertion that the FSD system will indeed be safer than human drivers.

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