Tesla AP, Clay and sustainability, Lancia Concept, Drone del #208 / May 5, 2023(Fri) / Confidential |
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I've had my Tesla Y for over two months now and I'm considering discussing my experience of Autopilot. People approach me and ask if my car drives Me well, they assume I use FSD (Full Self-Driving), which can be easily upgraded for $199 a month or a one-time payment of $15,000. However, based on my experience with Autopilot, I don't think I would pay for FSD unless it was given for free.
Despite setting the distance between my car and the car in front as '2' (the closest distance), the gap is adjusted arbitrarily depending on the current driving speed. It's manageable when driving on regular roads at around 40 miles per hour (64km/h), but on congested highways, even when there's enough space, I've had moments where my car suddenly stops due to detecting the car in front, causing inconvenience to the car behind me. Although the forward collision prevention is excellent due to the ambiguity of the distance setting, there was almost zero consideration for the car behind me. Other Tesla drivers overtake me because of the continuous emergency braking by Tesla in a non-hazardous situation.
Furthermore, Tesla faces difficulties on American roads where it is crucial to promptly perceive the intentions of other drivers and merge into lanes without hesitation (with the mindset of "the first one to enter the lane has the right of way" instead of defensive driving). At times, Tesla fails to detect other cars cutting in closely and accelerates, while at other times, it suddenly decelerates when a car in the adjacent lane encroaches on its space, which can be quite scary.
The nerve-wracking situations persist even on regular roads. Reacting too quickly to traffic lights, the car may start moving without sufficient visibility, which can create extremely hazardous conditions at three- or four-way intersections. There have also been times when I have turned off Autopilot because the car continued driving at my set speed despite the traffic light turning orange and then red. Similarly, in situations where there are no cars in front of me and the traffic light turns red, the car continues to travel at the same speed without slowing down, causing me to manually turn off Autopilot several times.
The car's recognition of construction work or merging lanes on the road is often flawed, causing it to either become unresponsive or brake unnecessarily. In the US, where roads are often used with a "survival of the fittest" mentality, watching the FSD handle make decisions about whether to go or stop can be as torturous as physical pain on one's heart.
My conclusion is that Tesla doesn't seem to have the intention to attempt FSD without charge. Even though it's considered the most advanced system, my life and my family's are precious, so until the system can fully satisfy the diverse driving styles of all people, driver intervention will likely be required at Level 3, where AP will remain a mere auxiliary tool (such as for quickly responding to text messages, drinking beverages, or eating hamburgers).
Lastly, I would like to recommend a YouTube video that showcases the details of FSD.
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🤭 May 5 Newsletter Summary
1. Sustainability Trend - Various effort using Clay
- GaeaStar solves the problem of disposable cups by using clay
- REEDuce utilizes clay for soundproof walls
- Clay humidifier made from recycled industrial waste using 3D printing
2. Automotive news this week
- Lancia's Pu+Ra HPE Concept
- Limo Going Extinct
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Sustainability Trend - GaeaStar aimed to address the issue of disposable plastic cups by utilizing clay
When Mankotia visited New Delhi, India in the mid-2000s, he remembered the traditional Indian practice of disposing of clay utensils, which prompted him to come up with a solution using a 3D printer to produce cups made of clay collected from the riverbeds in India, rather than relying on handmade craftsmanship that requires drying in the sun.
Initially, it took around 30 seconds to produce a single cup, but he was able to reduce the manufacturing time to less than 10 seconds and construct a small factory that uses an oven to dry and cure the cups within a day. He opened a second factory in San Francisco following his Berlin plant, and is capable of producing up to four million cups per year.
The clay cups have ten times the strength of paper cups, are durable enough to be put in a dishwasher and can be reused. They are also capable of holding both hot and cold beverages, much like an ice cream container, and are set to be supplied to US consumers as Verve Coffee cups.
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Sustainability Trend - REEDuce is a soundproof wall that utilizes clay
Due to the negative impact of noise pollution on the mental health of people living near heavily trafficked roads or noisy industrial sites, noise barriers that can protect against noise are essential in cities. However, traditional noise barriers have been known to cause environmental issues, emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide during production and disposal, and generate massive amounts of waste at the end of their lifespan.
REEDuce, a startup, has developed the world's first eco-friendly noise barrier system, which is made from locally sourced clay and reeds that have been thermally treated to effectively reduce noise pollution while significantly reducing CO2 emissions. The reeds are tied together in a bundled structure to improve air quality and provide habitat for insects, such as wild bees, in the spaces between the stems.
According to REEDuce, noise pollution can cause stress, sleep disorders, and even cardiovascular diseases, negatively affecting the health and wellbeing of millions of people. One-third of the world's population is affected by high levels of noise, with cars being a major contributor to the problem.
REEDuce's noise barrier system can offset a minimum of 60kg of CO2 per square meter and can withstand the role of a noise barrier for 20 years. By solving two social problems, carbon dioxide emissions and noise, it provides a sustainable solution that protects consumers from physical and mental harm and contributes to the creation of cities that prioritize sustainability. With the world's population expected to increase from 55% currently to 80% by 2050, the demand for innovative and diverse solutions that offer significant benefits is expected to grow.
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Sustainability Trend - A clay humidifier 3D printed from recycled industrial waste
A clay humidifier made through 3D printing using recycled industrial waste materials. The humidifier is printed with a mixture of recycled ceramic powder and clinker in a 1:3 ratio. The top absorbs and evaporates water, while the bottom is treated with a glaze to create a space for pouring and storing water. The diversity of the spaces allows for the humidifiers to be combined in pairs or displayed individually, and the unique 3D printing structure greatly improves the efficiency and moisture absorption rate. It can also be used as an interior design element when displayed with plants. |
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Automotive News - Lancia Pu+Ra HPE Concept
The Pu+Ra HPE concept by Lancia, which has a rather difficult name, was unveiled during Milan Design Week, heralding the future of the Lancia brand. The design features the characteristic tight lines and bold, minimalist surface treatment that Italian car companies do well. |
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The curves seen in the Aurelia and Flaminia of the 50s and 60s and the angular designs seen in the Beta and Delta of the 70s and 80s are combined, giving a feeling of seeing the entire history in one place.
This treatment is also evident in the front grille, where the existing shield-shaped grille has been reinterpreted, and a lighting design with a Y-shape that sweeps left and right has been newly applied to show the direction of the future. |
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The rear end features a reinterpretation of the geometric shapes and voluminous forms inspired by the golden era model of Lancia, the Stratos. The design incorporates circular and rectangular shapes to create a striking appearance. Additionally, the rear window features a Venetian louver effect that was popular in the 80s, giving it a fresh, new digital identity. |
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The concept designer seems to have copied and pasted the styling from the 80s, which integrated geometric shapes into non-geometric forms. The electrochromic glass roof, which is a non-geometric form, is combined with the perfect geometric shape of a dead circle sunroof, and this circular theme is connected directly to the instrument panel. The semicircular dashboard is designed to function as a table during autonomous driving and also tilts to serve as a large display during manual driving. |
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An interesting aspect is that a circular table is positioned between the first-row seats, serving as a coffee table-like feature that conveys coziness in an elegant manner. Additionally, the soft chick yellow color reminiscent of luxurious furniture seen in Italian homes from the 70s provides a unique impression. |
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The actual concept is designed on an electric car platform with the goal of a 700 km driving range on a single charge. Rather than practicality, it focuses on simple and organic design. It would be interesting to see what kind of reviews an Italian-optimized mass-produced car with such a design would receive in the United States. In the video, you can also see a preview of an intelligent interface that can be customized to the emotions and lifestyle of the passengers. |
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Automotive News - Limo going Extingct
Stretch limousines, which have extended the waist section, such as Lincoln Town Cars, Cadillac Devilles, and Hummer limousines, were once symbols of luxury that wealthy and famous people exclusively used. However, after becoming transportation for bachelor parties, weddings, and parties, they have now become a common extravagance service reserved by teenagers for events like birthdays and proms, and are facing extinction. The consumer group that rode in limousines has now shifted to Mercedes Sprinter vans, Black Cadillac Escalades, and Black Lexus LS sedans.
The primary cause is the economic downturn. Difficult economic conditions led companies to reduce spending, lay off employees, and as a result, demand for long-distance limousine rides sharply declined due to high unemployment rates and rising gasoline prices. As a result, ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft that offer luxury options have emerged, and the increasing number of collisions involving difficult-to-drive stretch limousines have become a setback, particularly in traffic-congested areas like New York.
Although stretch limousines can still be spotted on the road occasionally, kids are not impressed anymore. It seems like the changing times are happening faster than expected. |
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Flytrex recently shared an interesting survey based on over 20,000 drone delivery orders from last year. Among the 85,000 items delivered, the most popular food items were 1) french fries (a classic, right?) 2) turkey sandwiches 3) burritos 4) Italian sandwiches 5) pizza and other convenient snacks. In the grocery category, bananas took the top spot, followed by sports drinks, milk, chocolate bars, and eggs, which can be consumed as desserts or breakfast items.
In terms of categories, dinner options such as 1) sandwiches and salads 2) chicken and wings 3) Mexican food were popular, while fresh foods that are difficult to stock up on, such as 1) fresh produce 2) dairy products like milk and eggs 3) perishable foods, were ranked in the survey.
People who use drone delivery often order coffee for the energy boost, and when hungry, some even ordered food up to eight times a day. Reflecting on what they would order if they used drone delivery, I would pick my personal favorites, such as McDonald's iced coffee and french fries for kids, I am not any different from them. |
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Kia Design Center America
Written by Jenna Chwee
Email: jchwee@hatci.com
101 Peters Canyon Rd. Irvine, CA 92606
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