Tesla's Project Rodeo exposes test drivers and public to risks
Tesla's Project Rodeo tests autonomous driving software on public roads using specialized test drivers trained to delay intervention during software failures to gather more training data. The program reportedly exposes test drivers and the public to perilous driving scenarios and potential accidents to accelerate software development.
What happened
Tesla operates an internal test driver program called Project Rodeo, in which specialized drivers test unreleased versions of Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Autopilot software on public roads with other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Drivers on the project's 'critical intervention' team are trained to wait as long as possible before taking manual control, allowing the software to continue driving even after making mistakes such as rolling through red lights, swerving into other lanes, or failing to follow speed limits. Tesla engineers justify this approach to maximize data collection for software development.
Reported impact
Test drivers report navigating perilous scenarios and described the experience as 'running on adrenaline the entire eight-hour shift.' Safety experts note this approach risks the safety of both test drivers and people on public roads.
Index analysis
The practice of delaying intervention to gather more data represents a tradeoff between accelerating software development and immediate safety, potentially prioritizing data collection over accident prevention.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.