| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) In the case of Tesla and its Autopilot system, there have been multiple incidents where Teslas using Autopilot have been involved in accidents, including driving into parked emergency vehicles, resulting in fatalities and injuries [121831]. These incidents have led to lawsuits against Tesla for misrepresenting the capabilities of Autopilot and Full Self Driving (F.S.D.) features [121831].
(b) The article mentions that other companies developing driver-assistance systems and fully autonomous cars, such as Google, have taken a different approach by outfitting their self-driving test cars with expensive lidar devices in addition to other sensors, unlike Tesla's reliance on cameras [121831]. Additionally, experts from other companies and former Autopilot engineers have criticized Tesla's constant modifications to Autopilot and F.S.D., pushed out to drivers through software updates, as potentially hazardous due to buyers not being fully aware of the system's capabilities [121831]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the development of Tesla's Autopilot system. The article highlights how Elon Musk pushed for a cameras-only approach for autonomous driving, despite concerns from engineers about the safety of relying solely on cameras without additional sensing devices like radar [121831]. This design decision led to questions about the system's capabilities and safety, with regulators warning that Tesla and Musk exaggerated the sophistication of Autopilot, potentially encouraging misuse [121831].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the accidents involving Teslas using Autopilot driving into parked emergency vehicles, resulting in fatalities and injuries. Despite Tesla's insistence that drivers should stay alert and take control if Autopilot malfunctions, there were instances where the system failed to detect stationary objects, leading to tragic outcomes [121831]. Regulators and experts have raised concerns about the language used to describe the system's capabilities, potentially leading to misuse and dangerous situations [121831]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system:
- The software failure incident related to Tesla's Autopilot system driving into parked fire trucks, police cars, and other emergency vehicles, resulting in accidents that caused fatalities and injuries [121831].
- The failure was attributed to the design and implementation choices made within the Autopilot system, such as relying solely on cameras for autonomous driving capabilities, disregarding the use of radar and other sensors that could enhance safety in various driving conditions [121831].
- Elon Musk's insistence on using cameras alone for autonomous driving, despite concerns from Tesla engineers and industry experts, contributed to the within-system factors leading to the software failure incidents [121831].
(b) outside_system:
- The software failure incident involving Tesla's Autopilot system driving into parked emergency vehicles also had contributing factors originating from outside the system. For example, there were legal implications and lawsuits filed against Tesla for misrepresenting the capabilities of Autopilot and Full Self Driving services, leading to questions about the safety and accuracy of the system [121831].
- Regulators, such as the National Transportation Safety Board, criticized Tesla and Elon Musk for exaggerating the sophistication of Autopilot, which could have influenced some drivers to misuse the system, thereby contributing to the software failure incidents [121831]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
- The article discusses how Tesla's Autopilot system, which relies heavily on cameras for autonomous driving, faced criticism and investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after at least 12 accidents where Teslas using Autopilot drove into parked emergency vehicles, resulting in fatalities and injuries [121831].
- The article mentions that Tesla's Autopilot system faced challenges and safety concerns due to the emphasis on using cameras alone for autonomous driving, as opposed to incorporating radar and other sensors that could work better in various environmental conditions [121831].
- It is highlighted in the article that Tesla's Autopilot system faced scrutiny for constant modifications and updates pushed out to drivers, leading to uncertainty among buyers about the system's capabilities and potentially contributing to misuse of the technology [121831].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
- The article discusses how Elon Musk, as the guiding force behind Autopilot, was accused of repeatedly misleading buyers about the capabilities of Tesla's autonomous driving features, creating a situation where drivers may have been promised too much about Autopilot's capabilities [121831].
- It is mentioned in the article that there was tension between safety considerations and Mr. Musk's desire to market Tesla cars as technological marvels, with concerns raised about the language used to describe the capabilities of Tesla vehicles and the potential dangers of exaggerating the sophistication of Autopilot [121831].
- The article also highlights instances where Mr. Musk made statements about Tesla vehicles being on the verge of complete autonomy, potentially setting unrealistic expectations and contributing to the perception of overpromising the capabilities of Tesla's autonomous driving technology [121831]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The articles provide information about a software failure incident related to hardware. In the development of Autopilot, there were discussions and decisions made regarding the hardware components used in Tesla vehicles. For example, there were debates within Tesla about the use of radar alongside cameras for better performance in various conditions like heavy rain and snow [121831]. Additionally, there were instances where hardware choices, such as the installation of radar sensors, were influenced by aesthetic concerns raised by Elon Musk, which led to potential issues like radar not working properly in winter conditions [121831].
(b) The articles also discuss a software failure incident related to software decisions and capabilities. Elon Musk and Tesla's approach to autonomous driving technology, particularly relying solely on cameras for Autopilot, has been a point of contention. Many engineers and experts have criticized the cameras-only approach, highlighting the limitations and flaws in this strategy [121831]. Furthermore, there have been concerns raised about the misrepresentation of Autopilot and Full Self Driving capabilities to customers, with accusations of misleading statements and exaggeration of the technology's sophistication [121831]. These software-related issues have led to safety concerns and incidents involving Tesla vehicles using Autopilot. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The articles do not provide information about a malicious software failure incident related to intentional harm caused by humans [121831].
(b) The articles discuss non-malicious software failure incidents related to Tesla's Autopilot system. The incidents involve accidents where Teslas using Autopilot drove into parked emergency vehicles, resulting in fatalities and injuries. These incidents raise questions about the safety and capabilities of Autopilot, with families suing Tesla over fatal crashes and customers suing the company for misrepresenting Autopilot and Full Self Driving features [121831]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor decisions can be seen in the case of Tesla's Autopilot system. Elon Musk, as the guiding force behind Autopilot, pushed the technology in directions that other automakers were unwilling to take, insisting on achieving autonomy solely with cameras tracking surroundings despite concerns from Tesla engineers about safety ([121831]).
(b) The intent of the software failure incident related to accidental decisions is evident in the case of the fatal accidents involving Teslas using Autopilot. Despite the company's insistence that the onus is on drivers to stay alert and take control of their cars should Autopilot malfunction, there were instances where the system failed to distinguish between objects, leading to tragic outcomes ([121831]). |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence can be seen in the case of Tesla's Autopilot system. The development of Autopilot was influenced by Elon Musk's insistence on relying solely on cameras for autonomous driving, despite concerns from Tesla engineers about the safety of this approach. Musk's decisions and statements regarding the capabilities of Autopilot were criticized for misleading buyers and potentially endangering users [121831].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors can be observed in the case of the fatal accident involving a Tesla Model S owner, Joshua Brown, in Florida. The incident occurred when Autopilot failed to recognize a tractor-trailer crossing in front of the vehicle, leading to a fatal collision. Tesla later explained that the camera could not distinguish between the truck and the bright sky, highlighting a limitation in the system's sensor capabilities [121831]. |
| Duration |
unknown |
The articles do not provide specific information about a software failure incident being either permanent or temporary. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, byzantine, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident related to Tesla's Autopilot system driving into parked fire trucks, police cars, and other emergency vehicles resulting in accidents that caused fatalities and injuries can be categorized as a crash. The incidents involved the system losing state and not performing its intended functions, leading to collisions [121831].
(b) omission: The Autopilot system's failure to recognize a tractor-trailer crossing in front of a Tesla Model S, resulting in a fatal accident where the system omitted to perform its intended function of detecting and avoiding the obstacle, can be categorized as an omission. The system failed to recognize the truck due to issues with distinguishing it from the bright sky, leading to the tragic accident [121831].
(c) timing: The timing of the software failure incident can be related to the system performing its intended functions correctly but either too late or too early. For example, the system's delayed response or lack of timely intervention in critical situations could be considered a timing-related failure [121831].
(d) value: The software failure incident can also be related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly, leading to accidents and safety concerns. This could include instances where the system misinterpreted the surroundings or made incorrect decisions, resulting in collisions with obstacles [121831].
(e) byzantine: The behavior of the Autopilot system, which was designed to provide autonomous driving features solely based on cameras, can be considered as exhibiting a byzantine failure. The system's reliance on cameras alone, without additional sensing devices like radar, raised concerns about inconsistent responses and interactions, potentially contributing to the accidents and safety issues reported [121831].
(f) other: In addition to the above categories, the software failure incident could also be categorized as a flaw in the system's design and implementation, leading to safety risks and misrepresentation of the system's capabilities. The incident involved a combination of factors such as misleading statements about the system's abilities, constant modifications through software updates, and a focus on aesthetics over functionality, which could be considered as other behaviors contributing to the failure [121831]. |