About Autopilot
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control: Maintains your speed and an adjustable following distance from the vehicle in front of you, if there is one (see Traffic-Aware Cruise Control).
- Autosteer: Maintains your speed and distance from a leading vehicle while also intelligently keeping Model S in its lane (see Autosteer).
- Auto Lane Change: Moves Model S into an adjacent lane when you engage the turn signal and Autosteer is active (see Auto Lane Change).
- Navigate on Autopilot: Actively guides Model S from a highway’s on-ramp to off-ramp, including performing lane changes, navigating interchanges, automatically engaging the turn signal, and taking the correct exit (see Navigate on Autopilot).
- Autopark: Parks Model S, either parallel or perpendicularly (see GUID-900CE37E-421B-4971-A12A-58E533F339DE.html).
- Summon: Moves Model S forward or backward, even while you’re outside the vehicle. This is useful for parking in tight parking spots (see Summon).
- Smart Summon: Moves Model S out of a parking space and through more complex environments, maneuvering around obstacles and other vehicles, to meet you or go to a predetermined target (see Smart Summon).
- Traffic Light & Stop Sign Control: Maintains your speed, keeps a following distance, and keeps Model S in its lane while also slowing down and stopping for traffic lights and stop signs (see Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control).
How It Works
Autopilot uses the cameras on Model S, which monitor the surrounding area and detect other vehicles, pedestrians, road markings, and obstacles such as barriers and curbs. There are cameras mounted on the front, rear, left, and right sides of Model S (see Cameras).
Model S may also be equipped with a cabin camera, mounted in the rear-view mirror, that monitors driver attentiveness. It is your responsibility to keep your hands on the wheel, pay attention to the road, and be ready to take immediate action at any time.
When Autopilot is engaged, Model S shows a series of escalating warnings reminding you to keep your hands on the wheel and pay attention to the road. If there is no response, Autopilot disengages and is unavailable for the remainder of the drive.
It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the limitations of Autopilot and be ready to take control at all times. For more limitations, cautions, and warnings, see Limitations and Warnings.
Autopilot Conditions
Ensure all cameras are clean and free of obstructions before each drive and before using Autopilot features (see Cleaning a Camera). Dirty cameras and sensors (if equipped), as well as environmental conditions such as rain and faded lane markings, can affect Autopilot performance. If a camera is obstructed or blinded, Model S displays a message on the instrument cluster and Autopilot features may not be available. For more information on specific alerts, see Troubleshooting Alerts.
Before you can use Autopilot features, and after some Service visits, you must drive a short distance to calibrate cameras. For more information, see Drive to Calibrate Cameras.
In addition, these features may not work as intended when:
- The road has sharp curves or significant changes in elevation.
- Road signs and signals are unclear, ambiguous, or poorly maintained.
- Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow, hail, etc. or poorly lit roadways at night)
- You are driving in a tunnel or next to a highway divider that interferes with the view of the camera(s)
- Bright light (such as from oncoming headlights or direct sunlight) interferes with the view of the camera(s).
The list above does not represent an exhaustive list of situations that may interfere with proper operation of Autopilot features. For more information, see Limitations and Warnings.
| Autopilot Feature | Available When |
|---|---|
| Traffic-Aware Cruise Control |
|
| Autosteer |
|
| Navigate on Autopilot |
|