Musk explains why Tesla Robotaxi isn't running at night, and Lidar is the answer

Elon Musk explained that Tesla Robotaxi is not running at night due to the difficulty in detecting pets in low-light conditions. He cited "grey kittens on grey tarmac" as an example of a low-light, low-contrast detection problem that cameras struggle with, while lidar and radar can handle. The service now closes at 11 PM instead of 10 PM, and Musk emphasized the importance of avoiding such situations. Tesla has removed radar from its cars and dropped ultrasonic sensors, focusing on cameras, which are limited by light and contrast. The decision reflects a trade-off between sensor capabilities and safety.

• Tesla removed radar from its cars in May 2021, dropped ultrasonic sensors in 2022, and has never shipped a car with lidar.
• Musk has spent years calling lidar a "crutch" and a "fool’s errand," and he now claims that "lidar and radar reduce safety due to sensor contention."
• Waymo uses lidar and radar in its cars and has 4,000 driverless vehicles running 24/7, while Tesla has not scaled its robotaxi service significantly.

The decision to limit Robotaxi operating hours to 11 PM reflects Musk’s belief that cameras are inadequate for low-light detection, and the trade-off between sensor capabilities and safety. Tesla is one update away from returning to its launch-day midnight closing time, while Waymo, with lidar and radar on every car, never closes. Musk’s focus on night vision highlights the challenges of self-driving technology, and the fact that no sensor suite can eliminate all detection issues. The article also notes that Tesla’s CEO is aware of the limitations and is addressing them, while Waymo’s CEO is not.

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