Tesla’s Pop Culture Features: Sentry Mode, Plaid & Mad Max Origins

The journey of Tesla’s software interface is a story of ambitious prototypes and refined final products. Looking back at the leaked V11 software prototype from 2021 reveals a vision that was far more customizable than the system drivers use today. This early build, discovered on a Tesla-owned vehicle, showcased a radically different approach centered on user personalization. It featured a programmatic interface where apps could be resized and placed freely on the home screen, much like widgets on a smartphone. Users could theoretically run multiple applications simultaneously and organize them across several home screens for different scenarios, such as driving or media consumption. While the eventual v11 release incorporated a more restrained version of a customizable dock, the core ideas of responsive apps and multi-app functionality were shelved. The prototype’s modular design hinted at a future of personalized in-car computing that Tesla has yet to fully deliver.

That initial design was a dramatic shift. The screen allowed for a flexible layout where you could have one large app, several smaller widgets, or any mix in between. For instance, a compact navigation widget with shortcuts for Home and Work might sit beside a full-sized media player. The interface suggested the possibility of multiple home screen pages, letting owners create distinct layouts for various activities. A customizable dock at the bottom of the screen floated above other content, permitting information to display behind it. This level of control extended to vehicle settings, which were accessed through the gear selector icon, dimming the home screen widgets in a polished animation. The attention to detail indicated significant development time, making its cancellation notable.

Ultimately, Tesla released a more conservative update. The final v11 software introduced a customizable dock, but it was less flexible than the prototype’s version. It reserved space for permanent controls while dynamically filling other slots with recently used apps. The broader vision of resizable, always-visible apps and multiple home screens was absent. Several practical reasons likely influenced this decision. The advanced prototype was running on the newer AMD Ryzen-based infotainment computer (MCU3), while many vehicles at the time still used older Intel hardware. Releasing such a demanding interface could have fragmented the user experience and required supporting two entirely different UIs. As Tesla’s vehicles reached a mass market, priorities likely shifted toward a simpler, more universally intuitive system rather than one catering primarily to tech-savvy power users.

Separately, recent discoveries within the Tesla app code point to another significant technological leap on the horizon. The upcoming Cybercab robotaxi is confirmed to utilize a true brake-by-wire system, following the steer-by-wire innovation of the Cybertruck. This means there will be no physical hydraulic link between a brake pedal and the wheel calipers. Instead, an electronic signal from a pedal, or, in the pedal-less autonomous cab, from the computer itself, commands electric actuators to apply braking force. This discovery underscores a key divergence between Tesla’s consumer cars and its dedicated robotaxi platform.

This architectural shift offers profound advantages for a vehicle designed for continuous commercial service. By removing the traditional brake pedal, master cylinder, and extensive hydraulic lines, Tesla reclaims interior space and drastically reduces mechanical complexity. A fully electronic system enables seamless and precise blending of regenerative braking from the motors and traditional friction braking from the discs, optimizing both smoothness and energy recapture. Most importantly, fewer mechanical parts mean fewer potential failure points and lower maintenance requirements over a vehicle’s lifespan, a critical consideration for a fleet of robotaxis operating around the clock.

The contrast with Tesla’s latest consumer vehicle is instructive. The refreshed Model Y employs an advanced hybrid braking system. It uses a software-controlled electronic master cylinder for blending regeneration with physical braking, backed by a traditional mechanical cylinder as a fail-safe. This allows the car to use regenerative braking even when the driver presses the brake pedal, improving efficiency. The Cybercab, designed from the ground up for autonomy, logically eliminates the mechanical backup. Its safety will instead rely on redundant electrical systems and actuators to ensure braking capability persists even if one component fails.

While the ambitious V11 interface prototype remains a fascinating “what-if,” its spirit of innovation lives on in projects like the Cybercab. Both examples illustrate Tesla’s willingness to explore radical redesigns, whether for user interaction or fundamental vehicle controls, in its pursuit of a more advanced automotive future.

(Source: Not A Tesla App)