There’d been a rumor recently that Tesla Motors is interested in self-driving cars, or what’s more formally known as Autonomous Vehicles. It’s kind of the cool thing, because Google has gotten all this attention developing self-driving cars, as have other organizations. Additionally the automakers are coming out with these amazing driver assist features. Basically, the future is becoming real, the future we though was never going to exist, it’s becoming real.
But it was easy to think – naaah, Tesla isn’t actually looking into self-driving cars. Right?
Wrong. Right now on Tesla’s career website they’re seeking applicants under a job titled “Hardware Engineer – Radar”. The role is described thusly:
Tesla Motors is seeking a Radar Hardware Engineer who has 3-10 years of design and release responsibility on sensors (Radar, Cameras, Lidar, and Ultrasound)/active safety systems. This engineer will be responsible for translating Tesla’s autopilot roadmap into active safety features and into requirements. The engineer will actively drive the features into production and evaluate future technologies.
Uh.. LIDAR is one of the kinds of technology used in the Google self-driving car. And taken together, this is demonstrating concretely that Tesla is looking to develop at least driver assist features. Of course, to remain competitive in todays car market, Tesla has to keep up with driver assist features being implemented by other car companies.
The Responsibilities tell us more:-
Strong expertise in Radar sensing and radar development
Experience in designing next-generation radar hardware, including PCBA and , Antenna design
Experience in RF/IF design for Radar systems
Good knowledge in latest technologies and trends
Experience in algorithm development for sensor signal processing and sensor fusion
Experience in developing system verification and vehicle testing procedures for radar systems
Experience in packaging, calibration and tuning of radar systems
Experience in executing project from start to finish across multiple disciplines
Knowledge in system integration of sensors and control hardware
Knowledge in design of electronics, DSP algorithms and automotive communication networks
Ability to perform simulations (Simulink/Matlab) with support from other experts
Engineer should define Hardware interfaces and state machines.
All of this is in line with the use of a RADAR system to implement a driver assist system.
The Requirements says it even more so:
Bachelor’s in Engineering with minimum 5 years of experience
has experience developing a radar from scratch
have solid technical depth in radar and active safety systems.
Ability to communicate and drive suppliers
Be skilled working with cross functional team-members from multiple disciplines to reach fact-based decisions
Strong problem solving skills and desire to work in fast paced environment
Hands-on experience designing and debugging products
Yup.. RADAR and Active Safety Systems.
This tells us that, at the least, Tesla Motors is looking into driver assist systems of the sort other car-makers are selling today. This is an area where Tesla will have to play some catch-up.
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