Cybertruck Sees A “Road Runner” Fake Wall, Here’s Why

Forbes - Mar 20th, 2025
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In a recent video by YouTube star Mark Rober, Tesla's camera-based Autopilot was put to the test against a LIDAR-equipped car, facing various obstacles including a foam wall depicting an empty road. The Autopilot failed to detect the wall, while the LIDAR system succeeded. Another YouTuber, Kyle Paul, responded by testing Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) versions 12 and 13. While FSD version 12 failed, version 13 on Tesla’s 4th generation hardware succeeded, highlighting the advancements and challenges in Tesla's sensor technology.

The debate over the efficacy of different sensing technologies, such as cameras versus LIDAR and radar, is significant in the self-driving industry. Tesla's reliance on camera systems contrasts with the industry trend favoring multi-sensor approaches, as used by companies like Waymo. The tests underscore the importance of reliable obstacle detection in autonomous vehicles, especially as Tesla aims to deploy unsupervised FSD vehicles. The lack of transparency from Tesla regarding intervention statistics raises questions about the readiness of their systems for full autonomy.

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RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a largely accurate and timely overview of the ongoing debate in self-driving technology, particularly focusing on Tesla's approach versus the industry's preference for multi-sensor systems. It effectively engages the reader by incorporating recent viral events and discussing their broader implications. However, the article could benefit from more balanced representation of different perspectives and improved source quality by including insights from industry experts or official statements. Clarity is generally good, but technical terms could be better explained to enhance readability. While the article touches on controversial issues, it could delve deeper into ethical and regulatory aspects to increase its impact. Overall, the story is informative and relevant, with room for improvement in certain areas to enhance its quality and reliability.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story presents a factual account of the events surrounding the tests conducted by Mark Rober and Kyle Paul. It accurately describes the failure of Tesla's Autopilot to detect a fake wall and the success of LIDAR-equipped vehicles in the same scenario. However, it lacks specific details, such as the exact version of Tesla's Autopilot used in Rober's test, which affects the precision and verifiability of the claims. The story correctly identifies the debate over sensor technology, noting Tesla's reliance on cameras versus the industry's preference for multi-sensor approaches. The mention of the Cybertruck's potential inclusion of new radar technology aligns with industry discussions, though it lacks direct confirmation. Overall, the story is largely accurate but could benefit from additional source citations and verification of specific technical details.

6
Balance

The article provides a balanced overview of the ongoing debate between different sensor technologies for self-driving cars, mentioning both Tesla's camera-based approach and the industry's preference for multi-sensor systems. However, it tends to favor the industry's perspective by highlighting the limitations of Tesla's approach without equally emphasizing its potential advantages. The inclusion of both Rober's and Paul's tests offers a semblance of balance, yet the narrative leans towards critiquing Tesla's methods. The article could improve its balance by presenting more viewpoints from Tesla or other stakeholders who support camera-based systems.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, providing a logical flow of information from the description of the tests to the broader discussion on sensor technology. The narrative is straightforward, making it accessible to readers with a basic understanding of self-driving technology. However, some technical terms and concepts, such as 'Phoenix radar' and 'FSD versions,' could be explained more thoroughly for readers unfamiliar with the subject. Overall, the clarity is adequate but could be improved with more detailed explanations of technical aspects.

5
Source quality

The story relies primarily on YouTube videos from Mark Rober and Kyle Paul as its main sources, which are credible to an extent but lack the depth and authority of more established technical or industry sources. While these sources provide firsthand accounts of the tests, the lack of additional expert commentary or data from Tesla or other industry leaders weakens the overall source quality. The article would benefit from incorporating insights from automotive experts or official statements from Tesla to enhance its credibility and reliability.

6
Transparency

The article is relatively transparent in describing the tests conducted by Rober and Paul, including the setup and outcomes. However, it does not provide enough context regarding the potential biases of the YouTubers or the limitations of their experimental methods. The story could improve transparency by clarifying the basis for its claims about sensor technology and the specific versions of Tesla's systems tested. Additionally, disclosing any potential conflicts of interest, such as affiliations or sponsorships of the individuals involved, would enhance transparency.

Sources

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY4JMfnoAXg
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1nRvEh9NV4
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1MigIJXJx8
  4. https://www.theautopian.com/watch-a-tesla-and-a-lidar-equipped-car-take-the-road-painted-on-a-wall-wile-e-coyote-test/
  5. https://www.kidsnews.com.au/science-technology/tesla-fails-roadrunner-safety-test-in-viral-video-exposing-major-flaw/news-story/622e555a9de36f2d7ff8cbeac22b6ef8