In early October, Tesla unveiled its self-driving car, the Cybercab, without traditional controls and without any driver control. Now, sources at the Petersen Museum, where the Cybercab is on display until next year, have revealed that the car can be controlled via a controller.
According to AutoEvolution, the Tesla Cybercab comes with a small Xbox-like controller that plugs into the car and is used for steering and pedals. A recently released video shows the car climbing a ramp while a person sits in the front seat, who is believed to be using the controller. Sources have confirmed that the controller was indeed used at the museum, but that it is also possible to control the car wirelessly from outside the vehicle.
Currently, Tesla is looking for an operator to use their Cybercab cars, but many believe that this will not happen in the next three years. The cars will be controlled remotely in order to address safety and navigation issues that robotaxi vehicles will not be able to handle on their own.
One of the problems that the American company needs to solve in the coming period is the maintenance of these vehicles, and some companies have given up on providing this service due to high costs. Also, some markets are currently unavailable for Cybercab due to strict regulations, so Texas is considered an ideal place to start.
Source: Tesla, via Instagram