Tesla has finally released what is promised to be a new and improved version of Smart Summon, called Actually Smart Summon, or ASS for short.
The new feature is included in the 2024.27.20 software update, which also includes a new version of Full Self-Driving (FSD), v12.5.3.
Tesla first released Smart Summon in September 2019 as part of the big Version 10 software update. The feature is designed to enable the car to come to its owner or a designated location in a parking lot, maneuvering around obstacles, pedestrians, and other vehicles.
While the feature was met with excitement, it’s real life performance was less than stellar. It received mixed reviews, including incidents where the vehicle misjudged distances or didn’t notice cars or other obstacles in its way, causing damage to the Tesla and other vehicles, relegating it to nothing more than a party trick.
Since as far back as 2022 Elon Musk has promised to release a new, smarter version of Smart Summon, and after years of waiting, Tesla finally released it on Monday night. Along with the release of Actually Smart Summon, its predecessor has been downgraded to be called ‘Dumb Summon.’
According to the release notes of software update 2024.27.20, Actually Smart Summon can not only still come to your location without a person in the driver’s seat, but can now also drive away and park itself, a feature previously referred to by Musk as ‘Banish.’
“ASS (Actually Smart Summon) allows your vehicle to come to you, or head to a spot that you choose, all on its own. It’s like magic, but with more tech and less wand-waving,” the release notes read.
Unlike its predecessor, ASS relies on Tesla’s Vision system, and not Ultrasonic Sensors (USS). As a result, ASS users will now get a live feed from the car’s cameras to help prevent those situations where you might not have a clear line of sight to the vehicle.
So far it appears that ASS is limited to vehicles with HW4/AI4. But as with FSD v12.5, it will be only a matter of time before ASS comes to HW3 vehicles.
Since ASS has only just been released, we have yet to see any demos of it, but those should start appearing very soon.
UPDATE: Here are some initial tests of ASS, and so far it seems very impressive. The system shifts from reverse to drive very quickly and smoothly, and the overall speed at which ASS moves is also much quicker.
Actually Smart Summon test #2 (Roundabout)
— ΛI DRIVR (@AIDRIVR) September 3, 2024
I'm officially impressed pic.twitter.com/GbiWcdFYpB
ASS (Actually Smart Summon) test #1 pic.twitter.com/qHLJ4Pvrdg
— ΛI DRIVR (@AIDRIVR) September 3, 2024
Here are the full ASS release notes from 2024.27.20.
ASS (Actually Smart Summon)
Buckle up for the ride of your life, except, surprise! You’re not in the car. ASS (Actually Smart Summon) allows your vehicle to come to you, or head to a spot that you choose, all on its own. It’s like magic, but with more tech and less wand-waving.
Additionally, Dumb Summon allows you to move your Tesla forward or back with simple controls directly in your mobile app.
To use, open your Tesla app, hit the Summon tab, and get a live feed from your car’s cameras to guide your supervision.
- COME TO ME: Press and hold to have your Tesla come to you.
- GO TO TARGET: Set where you want your Tesla to go, then press and hold to send it on its merry way.
