Only recently, Reuters released updates on the Tesla Model S, including information about its new colour, glass roof, and, at long last, upgraded Hardware 4. We now know more about the Hardware 4’s cameras, or rather, lack thereof.
Similar to the previous Hardware 3, the new Hardware 4 arrangement is shown in pictures that have been extensively circulated on social media to have three cameras. It only discusses a two-camera arrangement and states that “the bi-camera structure has slots for 3 camera lens assemblies, but one of the cut-outs is occupied with a dummy camera.” Recent disclosures of this information came from Tesla’s own internal company records.
That ought to clarify why there are three cameras present. It doesn’t, however, clarify why Tesla would take such extreme measures as to install a false camera as opposed to producing a plastic housing for two cameras.
Musk’s Attention to Details – Probable Reason?
There are a few causes for this, the first of which is modularity; given how quickly technology is developing at the moment, leaving room for updates makes sense. But, leaving the space is one matter, and creating a false camera is quite another.
Hardware 4 pic.twitter.com/0Ld2sshG9z
— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) March 6, 2023
The distinction between vehicles with right-hand drive and those with left-hand drive offers another reason. The camera nearest to the driver is the one that is most to the right in the image (but it is actually most to the left on the car). It would make perfect sense to switch it to the opposite end for the UK, Australia, and other markets that drive on the opposite side of the road since it is in charge of following the road markings.
That still doesn’t explain why it would be better to leave a hole and fill it with a plastic tab rather than install a phoney camera. This may be greatly influenced by Elon Musk’s fixation on specifics. In a Tesla Model S or Model X, a plastic tab covering a hole would not only look cheap, but also be out of proportion.
Tesla isn’t known for skimping on design; the Model S may be 15 years old, but it is a flagship, and when someone spends $100,000 on a car, details count. A phoney camera looks far better than a plastic plug does because appearances matter. Do you know of another reason?
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