Tesla Cybercab passengers in the US discover virtual joystick — The Verge
In Austin, US, passengers of Tesla’s autonomous Cybercab taxi discovered a virtual joystick on the central display, which is likely intended to control the vehicle’s movement. The Cybercab has no traditional steering wheel or pedals, but the manual-control interface appeared in at least two videos published on the social network X.
Manual control elements
As The Verge reports, the controls were spotted less than a week after the official launch of the Cybercab in Austin. A square block with a switch for manual control was displayed in the lower-left corner of the central screen. It was labeled “forward” at the top and “reverse” at the bottom.
The interface also includes buttons to stop the vehicle, sound the horn, and manually open the doors. To the right of the panel, an image from the vehicle’s cameras is shown. In one of the videos, the image likely froze on a frame showing a Tesla Supercharger station from a previous location.
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Likely purpose of the feature
According to the publication’s assessment, these tools are intended for Tesla employees and depot staff who may need to slowly move a vehicle in a confined space or reposition cars in a parking lot. This method of control could allow workers to avoid contacting the Cybercab control center or a remote operator.
The Verge also notes that, theoretically, these functions could be useful for law enforcement officers or emergency services that need to remove a Cybercab from the road.
