Elon Musk’s The Boring Company has begun testing Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology in its Las Vegas Convention Center tunnels, according to Fortune.
Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, confirmed that the tests have been underway for several months, using Tesla vehicles with safety drivers on board. However, he cautioned that broad deployment of the system is still “a ways off.”
The Boring Company’s tunnels, in operation for about four years, currently connect the Las Vegas Convention Center to nearby hotels. Although Musk has long touted plans to expand the network citywide, the system today remains limited to a small area beneath the convention district.
Tesla recently launched a small invite-only robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, as well as a pilot ride-hail operation in San Francisco. But despite Musk’s claims of major progress in autonomy, Hill noted that safety drivers in Las Vegas still need to intervene “periodically” during test runs.
While the tunnels may appear to offer a simpler environment than open roads, they have presented unique challenges for Tesla’s software. Hill pointed out that the tunnels’ vibrant lighting, semi-smooth rock walls, and passenger pick-up zones have required adjustments from the system as vehicles encounter “spots that are difficult for them.”
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The ongoing trials highlight both the potential and the limitations of Tesla’s self-driving technology as Musk seeks to prove its viability in one of his most ambitious transportation projects.
