{
  "id": 12071489,
  "title": "Elon Musk admits that Tesla Robotaxis have a 'cat problem'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/elon-musk-admits-that-tesla-robotaxis-have-a-cat-problem",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-05T03:11:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/elon-musk-admits-that-tesla-robotaxis-have-a-cat-problem-and-one-which-googles-waymo-does-not-agree-with/articleshow/134684762.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Elon Musk has admitted that Tesla's Robotaxi service faces a significant challenge operating late into the night due to difficulties in detecting small animals, particularly grey kittens, on low-contrast backgrounds. This issue highlights the long-standing criticism of Tesla's camera-only autonomous driving system. In response, Tesla CEO Elon Musk pointed to low-light, low-contrast detection as the primary obstacle. Despite extending the Austin Robotaxi pilot operating hours by one hour, the service remains more limited than its initial 6:00 AM to midnight schedule. Musk emphasized the need to avoid harming pets, specifically grey kittens, during nighttime operations. He explained that camera-only systems struggle with detecting such objects in low visibility conditions, unlike active sensors like lidar and radar which can operate effectively regardless of ambient lighting or contrast. Waymo, a Google subsidiary, has successfully addressed this problem by using a multi-sensor system combining cameras, lidar, and radar, allowing their driverless vehicles to operate 24 hours a day. However, Tesla has dismissed such competing hardware setups, opting for a vision-only strategy under Musk's leadership. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Tesla vehicles, including those with Full Self-Driving capabilities, due to collisions in low-visibility environments.",
  "summary": "Tesla's Robotaxi service has recently broadened its operational hours, now extending to 11 PM. However, it faces challenges with low-light detection, particularly struggling to identify small creatures like grey kittens in dark conditions. Elon Musk acknowledged the drawbacks of relying solely on cameras at a promotional event. In contrast, companies like Waymo incorporate various sensors,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}