Technology
Past Tesletter articles
[Pics] Model Y computer upgrades
Greentheonly has been tinkering with a Model Y computer and shared on Twitter that it’s actually different than the Model 3. For example, the autopilot-infotainment link got upgraded to 1GB from 100mbps. Some pretty in-depth details being discussed in this Reddit thread.
From issue #108[Video] Model Y - Tesla's Ventilator
Tesla Engineering has published an update on the Tesla ventilator to help hospitals taking care of patients with COVID-19. Amazing to see the Model 3 center display touchscreen, infotainment computer, and vehicle controllers, powering a ventilator. By utilizing car parts Tesla is aiming to not take away from medical supplies. Way to go, Tesla!
From issue #106A code optimization that goes from running in 13 secs to 0.02, woot?!
Although we don’t know what it really refers to, we got really excited with this tweet by Andrej Karpathy, Tesla’s Director of AI. I guess we’re that kind of nerd.
Read more: Twitter
From issue #5Cybertruck’s steel body can be heated to get different colors
A few days ago Elon Musk said on Twitter that Cybertruck’s cold-rolled steel body could be heated to get different colors. It’s probably a long shot and most likely Tesla won’t be offering the Cybertruck in colors (at least initially, we think), but it’s good to know the option is there and maybe at some point or someone will come up with an aftermarket solution.
From issue #122
How Tesla key cards actually work
[Nerd post alert] Have you ever asked yourself how the NFC cards for the Model 3 actually work? This Reddit user has reversed-engineered his Tesla NFC card and discovered a bunch of information about it. First and most importantly, these cards are pretty secure; the other finding that I think is interesting is that the author believes he can use the Tesla key card to authenticate in other devices, like building access.
Read more: Reddit
From issue #84Imagining a Tesla App for iWatch
Rehan Butt has created a bunch of mockups for a possible Tesla App for the Apple Watch. Honestly it looks pretty cool, I hope someone at Tesla sees them and gets inspired to prioritize something like this!
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See more: Tesla Watch App
From issue #35Inside Tesla - Petersen Museum Exhibit
A cool video showcasing the Tesla exhibit at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles.
From issue #251Inside the Tesla Gigafactory 📹
Cool look at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada, definitely worth watching!
From issue #121News about platform regulation in Europe
Seems that the European Commissioner and Elon had a chat, and hopefully this means that Tesla has a clear way of taking their Autopilot and FSD to Europe in the same way that it works in the US.
From issue #215Official Tesla API
Tesla just published their first official documentation about their API, opening the door for 3rd party apps to register directly with Tesla. This will also allow for better protection for us users, where we should know in the future which apps have access to our car, and hopefully which information they are gathering and how often.
From issue #288Optimus folds a shirt
Since Optimus was first announced in August 2021, there has been a lot of progress. When it was first announced, it was a person on a stud, not impressive to be honest. But since then, we have seen real robots, currently in their second version, performing day-to-day tasks. In the video released this week, we can see Optimus folding a shirt, it does it pretty smoothly, and assuming from previous information, it probably has learned it by just observing a human performing the same task. Who is ready for some Tesla wash & fold?
From issue #300Radio station or podcast stored in your profile
Marc Benton shared that the same radio that he was listening to in his Model 3 was saved when driving his wife’s Y. If this is Tesla linking profiles to accounts maybe they do it based on the phone key paired, maybe in a different way? I have to say this is the first time I’ve heard about this, and it’s great that Tesla is starting some synchronization between cars.
From issue #156S3XY Winter Testing in New Zealand
Tesla recently released a video showcasing its winter testing in New Zealand. As the company stated, “When it’s summer in the northern hemisphere, Tesla engineers follow the snow to Wanaka, New Zealand to continue their vehicle development year-round.”
From issue #248
Software update 2018.24 - How is it deployed, encrypted, etc
High level explanation of how new software releases are handled by greentheonly. Pretty cool thread (for us dorks :P).
Read more: Reddit
From issue #14Specifications of all Teslas
Really useful if you are shopping for a used Tesla or want to know what exactly is in the Tesla that you own.
Read more: EVSpecifications
From issue #47Tesla and Agile Hardware
Great video, it explains how Tesla manages 27 production changes per week per model, something that has made them resilient to the chip shortage and is allowing them to continuously evolve. I have to say the video has some annoying background music and that the format is kind of weird, but the content is really good.
From issue #184Tesla comprehensive timeline visualized
Pretty cool visalization of the different Tesla models and their updates and feature rollouts.
Tesla controls iOS volume
New on 2019.28, the car now controls the volume of our iPhone if connected via bluetooth. Small details that makes it more convenient.
Read more: Twitter
From issue #73Tesla definitely needs a SpaceX app to watch the live streams, view information, and watch past videos
Just a shortcut into Spacex’s YouTube channel, but I like it!
From issue #158
Tesla expands Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) test operator team worldwide
Tesla is looking for testers for its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems in Toronto, Barcelona, Paris, and Milan, which seems to be an effort to spend their testing in cities with heavy traffic and a variety of new situations.
From issue #168Tesla glass
Sneak peek inside’s Tesla’s Design Studio to see how Tesla glass is made.
From issue #182Tesla is happy to license Autopilot/FSD and other Tesla technology
Several years ago, Tesla made all of its patents freely available, and recently, they started opening their Supercharger network to non-Tesla vehicles. Both actions align with Tesla’s mission statement to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy”. This week, Elon mentioned that they would be more than happy to license Autopilot/Full Self-Driving and other Tesla technologies to other car manufacturers. Personally, every time I rent a car, I find myself missing many of Tesla’s in-car technologies. I believe the lane-keeping abilities of many cars are substandard, often deactivating unexpectedly in the middle of a turn. I would love to see more cars equipped with advanced features and software akin to those in my Model Y.
From issue #270Tesla is porting Unity into their cars
Elon tweeted that Tesla is actually porting Unity and seems it’s in the plans to port the Unreal Engine too. Unity is a popular game engine, a piece of software that game creators use to build their games on top of it. Some of the most popular games built on Unity are Kerbal Space Program, Wasteland 2, and Assassin’s Creed: Identity. This would open the door to many more games to reach our cars - assuming that Tesla lets other people release games - or at least would make it easier for Tesla to develop or port many more games.
Read more: Twitter
From issue #60Tesla patents a system to automate turn signaling
Tesla has patented a system that by using onboard sonar, cameras, and steering wheel, is capable of automatically turning on the blinkers.
From issue #24Tesla received approval to install short-range interactive motion-sensing radar in its vehicles
The FCC granted Tesla permission to install these radars in its cars. They could be used to know if a child is left in the car and in general, for much more detailed passenger monitoring.
From issue #161Tesla to provide 2FA for our Tesla accounts
I use 2FA in all the accounts whenever it’s available, and you should too (at least on most important accounts like email). Security is important and even more when it can reveal your location, turn on your car, etc. Let’s hope Tesla adds 2FA soon!
Read more: Twitter
From issue #59Upcoming network update and 2FA
It seems to me that Tesla is getting ready to enhance their security infrastructure and support 2FA. Back in November, Elon said on Twitter they were making changes to their core operating system so they could introduce 2FA. Now, they have been sending in-car notifications to owners running very old versions of the firmware so they update by May 2020. The in-car notification specifically mentions security enhancements “The Tesla network is undergoing enhancements for increased security.”
