Tesla's Cybercab Robotaxis to Allow Passenger Camera Views

Tesla is developing a feature for its autonomous Cybercab robotaxi that will enable passengers to view the vehicle's side and rear camera feeds at any time during their journey. The proposal was made by Tesla enthusiast Dan Burkland, and a UI software engineer at Tesla confirmed the feature is under development.

The Cybercab model lacks traditional external or internal mirrors, meaning passengers currently cannot monitor the vehicle's surroundings. The car's eight external cameras collect data, but these feeds have not been accessible to passengers during transit. Feeds have only been displayed upon arrival at the destination to aid safe egress.

The new, upcoming feature will allow passengers to request camera views in real-time. This is expected to assist passengers, particularly those new to a fully autonomous vehicle environment without a driver, steering wheel, or traditional mirrors. It may be one of the significant upgrades planned for the Cybercab.

Tesla aims to continuously optimize the passenger experience in its robotaxi fleet. Currently, over 300 Cybercabs are deployed in Austin, with Dallas being the next city to launch the service. However, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has raised questions with Tesla regarding regulatory compliance for the Cybercab, including its mirrorless design and camera requirements.