Tesla launched their newest self-driving laptop, often known as {Hardware} 4 (HW4), earlier this yr on the Mannequin S and Mannequin X, later increasing it to the Mannequin Y (though with some variations). Not solely is there a brand new laptop but in addition up to date cameras, and primarily based on a video evaluating the footage to the earlier {Hardware} 3 (HW3) cameras, the distinction in high quality is substantial.
The comparability was put collectively by FSD Beta tester AIDRIVR, who used a 2018 Mannequin S and 2023 Mannequin Y. To get probably the most correct comparability doable, the 2 automobiles had been pushed alongside the identical roads side-by-side (or one in entrance of the opposite). As you possibly can see within the video beneath, there’s a large (however unsurprising) distinction in high quality from the 1.2 megapixel HW3 cameras in comparison with the 5 megapixel cameras from HW4.
Tesla Autopilot HW3 and HW4 footage in contrast (a lot larger distinction than anticipated): pic.twitter.com/VTqLxKbcU4
— AI DRIVR (@AIDRIVR) August 8, 2023
The footage from the HW4 cameras is far crisper, permitting you to simply learn license plates and highway indicators which are blurred and largely indecipherable in HW3. There’s additionally a considerable distinction within the rear digicam, during which the fish-eye impact is rather more pronounced permitting you to see a considerably wider area of view. It needs to be famous that the rear digicam view on the 2018 Mannequin S used on this video doesn’t seem to have as a lot of a fish-eye impact because the one on both our 2019 Mannequin 3 or 2022 Mannequin Y.
Credit score: @AIDRIVR | X
Different issues we observed within the video is improved picture high quality in evening time footage, enhanced brightness management for improved publicity, and extra vibrant and ‘true to life’ shade illustration, most notably the crimson within the cease indicators truly seems to be crimson and never orange, prefer it does on HW3.
How this improved high quality interprets into enhancements for Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta stays to be seen. Elon Musk has stated that vehicles outfitted with HW4 are about 3 to five instances extra succesful than these outfitted with HW3, however we don’t know the way a lot of that, if something in any respect, is attributed to the improved high quality of the video footage.
After seeing this footage, there’ll in fact be the query of whether or not the cameras may be retrofitted. Primarily based on earlier feedback from Musk, we already know that Tesla gained’t supply a HW3 to HW4 retrofit, however the identical applies to updating the cameras because the HW4 facet repeaters have solely completely different connectors.
Tesla HW3 (APH4) vs HW4 (AP04) Aspect Repeater – RH