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Tesla’s Elon Musk jokes about Cybertruck taser defense system, but it’s not that far-fetched
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently hinted at the possibility of adding a remote taser feature to the Cybertruck’s exterior cameras, which would be used to fend off intruders in the event of a break-in. While most likely a satirical response from the CEO, the use of a taser for self-defense is legal in 49 out of 50 U.S. states and could be effective if it is ever added to the Cybertruck.
The idea, when combined with his prior acknowledgment of adding the Boring Company’s “Not-a-Flamethrower,” makes the Cybertruck a nightmare for anyone who wants to break into the all-electric tank of a pickup.
After a Twitter follower stated that they would be interested in having a remote taser feature with the all-electric pickup, Musk stated that the idea has already been considered. What’s more, the CEO stated that the taser would be a standard addition on the Cybertruck.
Comes standard with Cybertruck
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 18, 2020
Currently, the only state in the U.S. that completely prohibits the use of a taser or Stun Gun is Hawaii, according to Taser.com. The 49 other states all allow the use of a taser, with 38 of them carrying no legal restrictions, such as a permit to own, or to use for self-defense.
The Tesla Cybertruck is a durable and unique pickup that is unlike any other than comes before it. Its 300x rolled stainless steel exterior, combined with bulletproof glass, makes it one of the most robust and most durable vehicles ever created for consumer use. Surely, cosmetic damage to the Cybertruck will not be a worry for most owners, as the robust exterior will undoubtedly fend off any attempts of damaging the vehicle.
However, the Cybertruck will still be just as susceptible to break-in attempts as any other vehicle on the road. Intruders will likely look at the truck as a challenge to break into thanks to its very public specifications about its strength and durability. While Tesla’s Sentry Mode is still a prevalent feature across the globe, it has not stopped vandals and criminals from attempting to break into the company’s all-electric cars. Additional defense mechanisms would most certainly give the intruders a clue that the Cybertruck is the wrong vehicle to try to break into.
While satirical, Musk’s announcement of this feature is undoubtedly an indication that Tesla owners and enthusiasts have some of the most refreshing ideas for the company’s vehicles. While the Cybertruck taser idea would undoubtedly fend off those with intentions of stealing belongings from the vehicle owner, Tesla owners in Hawaii would have to obtain a permit to use the feature, if it does come into fruition.
After all, Musk has a pretty good track record about making crazy projects real. The Boring Company’s Not-a-Flamethrower is living proof of that. Prior to its unveiling, pretty much everyone was sure that the Boring Company Flamethrower was just a joke. But lo and behold, it really wasn’t.
Technically, the use of the weapon is also permitted when protecting the belongings or property of an individual. This information is crucial and could mean that the Cybertruck’s taser-defense system is not only legal in 98% of the country, but could be useful in protecting owners from possible intrusions into their all-electric pickup.
Investor's Corner
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) received fresh support from Piper Sandler this week after analysts toured the Fremont Factory and tested the company’s latest Full Self-Driving software. The firm reaffirmed its $500 price target, stating that FSD V14 delivered a notably smooth robotaxi demonstration and may already perform at levels comparable to, if not better than, average human drivers.
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Analysts highlight autonomy progress
During more than 75 minutes of focused discussions, analysts reportedly focused on FSD v14’s updates. Piper Sandler’s team pointed to meaningful strides in perception, object handling, and overall ride smoothness during the robotaxi demo.
The visit also included discussions on updates to Tesla’s in-house chip initiatives, its Optimus program, and the growth of the company’s battery storage business. Analysts noted that Tesla continues refining cost structures and capital expenditure expectations, which are key elements in future margin recovery, as noted in a Yahoo Finance report.
Analyst Alexander Potter noted that “we think FSD is a truly impressive product that is (probably) already better at driving than the average American.” This conclusion was strengthened by what he described as a “flawless robotaxi ride to the hotel.”
Street targets diverge on TSLA
While Piper Sandler stands by its $500 target, it is not the highest estimate on the Street. Wedbush, for one, has a $600 per share price target for TSLA stock.
Other institutions have also weighed in on TSLA stock as of late. HSBC reiterated a Reduce rating with a $131 target, citing a gap between earnings fundamentals and the company’s market value. By contrast, TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating and a $509 target, pointing to strong autonomous driving demonstrations in Austin and the pace of software-driven improvements.
Stifel analysts also lifted their price target for Tesla to $508 per share over the company’s ongoing robotaxi and FSD programs.
Elon Musk
SpaceX Starship Version 3 booster crumples in early testing
Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
SpaceX’s new Starship first-stage booster, Booster 18, suffered major damage early Friday during its first round of testing in Starbase, Texas, just one day after rolling out of the factory.
Based on videos of the incident, the lower section of the rocket booster appeared to crumple during a pressurization test. Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
Booster test failure
SpaceX began structural and propellant-system verification tests on Booster 18 Thursday night at the Massey’s Test Site, only a few miles from Starbase’s production facilities, as noted in an Ars Technica report. At 4:04 a.m. CT on Friday, a livestream from LabPadre Space captured the booster’s lower half experiencing a sudden destructive event around its liquid oxygen tank section. Post-incident images, shared on X by @StarshipGazer, showed notable deformation in the booster’s lower structure.
Neither SpaceX nor Elon Musk had commented as of Friday morning, but the vehicle’s condition suggests it is likely a complete loss. This is quite unfortunate, as Booster 18 is already part of the Starship V3 program, which includes design fixes and upgrades intended to improve reliability. While SpaceX maintains a rather rapid Starship production line in Starbase, Booster 18 was generally expected to validate the improvements implemented in the V3 program.
Tight deadlines
SpaceX needs Starship boosters and upper stages to begin demonstrating rapid reuse, tower catches, and early operational Starlink missions over the next two years. More critically, NASA’s Artemis program depends on an on-orbit refueling test in the second half of 2026, a requirement for the vehicle’s expected crewed lunar landing around 2028.
While SpaceX is known for diagnosing failures quickly and returning to testing at unmatched speed, losing the newest-generation booster at the very start of its campaign highlights the immense challenge involved in scaling Starship into a reliable, high-cadence launch system. SpaceX, however, is known for getting things done quickly, so it would not be a surprise if the company manages to figure out what happened to Booster 18 in the near future.
News
Tesla FSD (Supervised) is about to go on “widespread” release
In a comment last October, Elon Musk stated that FSD V14.2 is “for widespread use.”
Tesla has begun rolling out Full Self-Driving (Supervised) V14.2, and with this, the wide release of the system could very well begin.
The update introduces a new high-resolution vision encoder, expanded emergency-vehicle handling, smarter routing, new parking options, and more refined driving behavior, among other improvements.
FSD V14.2 improvements
FSD (Supervised) V14.2’s release notes highlight a fully upgraded neural-network vision encoder capable of reading higher-resolution features, giving the system improved awareness of emergency vehicles, road obstacles, and even human gestures. Tesla also expanded its emergency-vehicle protocols, adding controlled pull-overs and yielding behavior for police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances, among others.
A deeper integration of navigation and routing into the vision network now allows the system to respond to blocked roads or detours in real time. The update also enhances decision-making in several complex scenarios, including unprotected turns, lane changes, vehicle cut-ins, and interactions with school buses. All in all, these improvements should help FSD (Supervised) V14.2 perform in a very smooth and comfortable manner.
Elon Musk’s predicted wide release
The significance of V14.2 grows when paired with Elon Musk’s comments from October. While responding to FSD tester AI DRIVR, who praised V14.1.2 for fixing “95% of indecisive lane changes and braking” and who noted that it was time for FSD to go on wide release, Musk stated that “14.2 for widespread use.”
FSD V14 has so far received a substantial amount of positive reviews from Tesla owners, many of whom have stated that the system now drives better than some human drivers as it is confident, cautious, and considerate at the same time. With V14.2 now rolling out, it remains to be seen if the update also makes it to the company’s wide FSD fleet, which is still populated by a large number of HW3 vehicles.
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
SpaceX Starship Version 3 booster crumples in early testing
