Tesla’s new self-driving computer (HW4): more cameras, radar, and more

Thursday, July 27, 2023 | Chimniii Desk

New images and details surrounding Tesla’s most robust self-driving computer, or Hardware 4 (HW4), were shown today, revealing additional cameras, a reintroduction of potential radar systems, and more.

Tesla released some details about HW4 during last year’s AI Day event. Still, additional specifications were revealed today by Greentheonly, a Tesla hacker who said the computer came from a Model X vehicle. Green said that Tesla has already started building vehicles with the new computer, but they are not yet being delivered.

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Tesla Has Introduced FSD Hardware 4.0 on the Model Y

I am sure you are all eager to know more about HW4, so I am going to show you the refreshed car computer from a Model X. Just don't tell anybody you saw it, because it's really a secret still.
This unit made appearance at the EPC about a month ago, but the picture was hidden. pic.twitter.com/7AENqP6h2Z

— green (@greentheonly) February 15, 2023

Right off the bat, green confirms what CEO Elon Musk said during the most recent earnings call: retrofits of HW4 into older vehicles will not be possible. While green shows the form factor of the new computer is completely different than past ones, even the most recent applications that were installed in Plaid vehicles, the new HW4 is simply not compatible.

Musk said during the Q4 Earnings Call in late January:

“But it is the cost and difficulty of retrofitting Hardware 3 with Hardware 4 is quite significant. So it would not be, I think, economically feasible to do so.”

Hardware 4: Tesla's latest tech now finally being delivered to customers

Many of the specifics of HW4 are extremely technical, but it appears Tesla aimed to simplify the infotainment system to void a GPU daughterboard. The entire unit is smaller and sleeker, but the RAM, NVMe (nonvolatile memory express), CPU, and GPU are all identical to past units.

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Green adds:

“A lot less improvement than many hoped for. Still Samsung Exynos-IP based. Bumped CPU cores from 12 to 20 (5 clusters of 4 cores each), maxing at 2.35GHz, idle at 1.37GHz Number of TRIP cores increased from 2 to 3, 2.2GHz max freq All x2 since there are two SoCs per board.”

HW4:
A lot less improvement than many hoped for.
Still Samsung Exynos-IP based.
Bumped CPU cores from 12 to 20 (5 clusters of 4 cores each), maxing at 2.35GHz, idle at 1.37GHz
Number of TRIP cores increased from 2 to 3, 2.2GHz max freq
All x2 since there are two SoCs per board pic.twitter.com/eeHXg5x0aL

— green (@greentheonly) February 15, 2023

Perhaps one of the most notable differences are there are now 12 “fully-populated camera connectors,” with one being utilized as a spare. The cameras are also labeled, and some seem to indicate that cameras will be added to the front and rear bumpers. “There’s a huge blindspot up front on legacy cars up front,” green notes.

What's SVC you might wonder? According to EPC, SVC is bumper. So I'd guess these are bumper cameras. There's a huge blindspot upfront on legacy cars up front (welcome to the legacy camp, Plaid owners!), so front bumper camera and two in the (rear?) bumper corners for x-traffic pic.twitter.com/sixzNo7qII

— green (@greentheonly) February 15, 2023

This would make sense, considering Teslas currently utilize eight cameras, with the additional three connectors making way for the two rear and one front camera that will be added with the new hardware.

Another interesting detail found by green was Phoenix radar, which is a rumored 4-dimensional radar that will help extend current reach by double. Tesla wanted to move away from radar, opting for a completely camera-based approach, which it did with the introduction of its Vision model.

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Musk said during the Q1 2021 Earnings Call:

“When your vision works, it works better than the best human because it’s like having eight cameras, it’s like having eyes in the back of your head, beside your head, and has three eyes of different focal distances looking forward. This is — and processing it at a speed that is superhuman. There’s no question in my mind that with a pure vision solution, we can make a car that is dramatically safer than the average person.”

However, radar and a radar heater were both seen in vehicle coding. The Phoenix radar appears to be a type of forward radar that will be installed in HW4 vehicles.

Perhaps more details will be shed regarding HW4 in the coming weeks, especially as Tesla’s Investor Day is approaching and will take place on March 1.

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FAQ

Do new Teslas come with HW4?

Yes, some new Teslas come with HW4. Tesla started shipping Model Y cars that are equipped with its Hardware 4 self-driving technology package in May 2023. The company has also started shipping Model S and Model X cars with HW4.

HW4 is a significant upgrade over the previous generation of Tesla's self-driving hardware. It has a more powerful computer, better cameras, and a new radar system. This allows Tesla to develop more advanced self-driving features, such as the ability to navigate city streets and drive without human input.

However, not all new Teslas come with HW4. Tesla is still shipping some cars with the older HW3 hardware. This is because HW4 is not yet available in all Tesla factories. Additionally, Tesla is offering a retrofit program for owners of cars with HW3. This program allows owners to upgrade their cars to HW4 for a fee.

If you are considering buying a new Tesla, it is important to check which hardware it comes with. If you want the latest self-driving features, you will want to make sure that the car comes with HW4.

What is the benefit of HW4 Tesla?

HW4, or Hardware 4, is the latest generation of Tesla's self-driving hardware. It is a significant upgrade over the previous generation, HW3, and offers a number of benefits, including:

A more powerful computer: The HW4 computer is significantly more powerful than the HW3 computer. This allows Tesla to develop more advanced self-driving features, such as the ability to navigate city streets and drive without human input.
Better cameras: The HW4 system has eight high-resolution cameras, compared to the HW3 system's six cameras. This gives Tesla a better view of the surrounding environment, which can help the car to make more accurate decisions.
A new radar system: The HW4 system also includes a new radar system. This system can help the car to see objects that are not visible to the cameras, such as other cars in blind spots.

Overall, HW4 offers a number of benefits over the previous generation of Tesla's self-driving hardware. These benefits could make it possible for Tesla to develop more advanced self-driving features, which could eventually lead to fully autonomous driving.

Here are some specific examples of how HW4 could benefit Tesla drivers:

Better lane-keeping assistance: The more powerful computer and better cameras in HW4 could allow Tesla to provide more accurate lane-keeping assistance. This could help drivers to stay in their lane more easily, especially in difficult driving conditions.
Improved automatic emergency braking: The radar system in HW4 could help Tesla to improve its automatic emergency braking system. This could help to prevent accidents by reducing the time it takes for the car to brake when it detects an obstacle.
Enhanced cruise control: The more powerful computer in HW4 could allow Tesla to enhance its cruise control system. This could include features such as automatic lane changing and adaptive cruise control that can adjust the car's speed based on the traffic around it.

These are just a few of the potential benefits of HW4 for Tesla drivers. As Tesla continues to develop its self-driving technology, it is likely that HW4 will play an increasingly important role.

Does 2023 Model Y have HW4?

Some 2023 Model Ys do have HW4. Tesla started shipping Model Y cars that are equipped with its Hardware 4 self-driving technology package in May 2023. However, not all 2023 Model Ys come with HW4. Tesla is still shipping some cars with the older HW3 hardware.

If you are considering buying a new 2023 Model Y, it is important to check which hardware it comes with. If you want the latest self-driving features, you will want to make sure that the car comes with HW4.

You can check which hardware your Model Y has by using the Tesla app. Open the app and go to the "Vehicle" tab. Then, tap on "Software." Under "Hardware," you will see the version of the hardware that your car has.

If you are not sure which hardware your Model Y has, you can contact Tesla customer support. They will be able to tell you which hardware your car has and whether it is eligible for the HW4 retrofit program.

Confirmed: Tesla HW4 Will Not Include New Cameras Initially

The HW4 retrofit program is available for owners of cars with HW3. The program allows owners to upgrade their cars to HW4 for a fee. The cost of the upgrade is not yet known, but it is expected to be around $1,000.

If you are interested in the HW4 retrofit program, you can contact Tesla customer support. They will be able to tell you more about the program and how to sign up.