Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced an extension of the Robotaxi operating hours in Austin, Texas, moving the end time from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The company is currently focusing on improving the system's ability to detect small pets in low-light, nighttime conditions.
The Robotaxi service, which began pilot operations in Austin last year, has expanded to other cities in Texas and Florida. The vehicles rely on a camera-based vision system and sensors for navigation. Tesla's manual notes that poor lighting, such as streets without lamps, can limit the accuracy of camera-based visual data.
Musk stated that the team is working on using AI to perform photon counting analysis, which could enhance the performance of visible-light cameras in the dark. This initiative follows ongoing scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding the effectiveness of Tesla's FSD camera system in low-visibility environments.
Competitor Waymo utilizes LiDAR technology for environment scanning. Despite this, a Waymo vehicle was involved in a collision with a pet cat last year. Additionally, a Tesla Model Y operating as a Robotaxi in Austin was involved in a collision with a dog in September 2025, though the animal appeared unharmed.
