In the latest video released by YouTube channel AIDRIVR, the host takes his Tesla Model S for a test drive using the latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta version 8 in snowy Lake Tahoe. While the FSD function performs decently in the video, there are a few hangups that deserve recognition.
On various turns, the FSD system alerts the driver to take over, including on one right-hand turn where the system completely understeers. Luckily, as the system is not fully autonomous and requires intervention by the driver at times, the host is able to correct the turn with ease.
Additionally, the computer knows to go slowly, and takes the turn at well under 20 mph.
Regarding the FSD beta system’s ability to correctly take the snowy turn, the host says “I don’t think we will see behavior like that until they specifically target snow conditions in a future update.”
The host ultimately says that the FSD still excels at detecting drivable space in the snow, though its fallback has to do with its inability to control well in the snow – which is, perhaps, to be expected since the host is using summer-oriented all-weather tires.
In any case, the FSD beta manages to hold its own fairly well in the snow, and future updates are only going to continue to improve the system–especially once FSD beta reaches Canada (bring on even more extensive snow testing).
