Tesla to add 'Sentry Mode' function to keep an eye on your parked car

  • Sign in required

    Please sign in to your account to add a vehicle to favourite

  • Share this article

Elon Musk said Tesla will roll out 'Sentry Mode' that should give users the ability to see and record any activity that happens when they step away from their vehicle. Picture/Supplied

Elon Musk said Tesla will roll out 'Sentry Mode' that should give users the ability to see and record any activity that happens when they step away from their vehicle. Picture/Supplied

Tesla wants to let nervous car owners check on their vehicle while they're away. 

CEO Elon Musk said the company will roll out 'Sentry Mode' that should give users the ability to see and record any activity that happens when they step away from their Tesla. 

It's unclear when the feature will launch, however.

'Sentry Mode' will be available for all cars with Enhanced Autopilot, according to Musk.

Autopilot, or Enhanced Autopilot as it was renamed to in 2016, is the software that allows Tesla vehicles to drive semi-autonomously. 

Musk didn't elaborate on how Sentry Mode would work, but TechCrunch noted that it could enable the dashcam to remain on when the driver is away.

It could also be activated if the car senses it's been hit. 

Musk's post was prompted by a tweet from a Tesla owner who said his car had been hit.

"Found this monster dent this morning, right in front of the rear facing cameras," Twitter user Andy Sutton wrote. 

"Really wish there was a 360 dash cam feature while parked." 

Sentry mode would take advantage of a software update, released last October for cars with Hardware 2.5 or later, which allows users to record 360-degree footage with their vehicle's front-facing camera. 

The footage is recorded and stored on a USB flash drive that the user has to provide.

It comes as Musk has also talked about introducing 'dog mode' for the Model 3.  

'Dog mode' would help canine owners when they have to step away from their vehicle. 

Twitter user Josh Atchley asked Musk if he could implement a 'dog mode' feature 'where the music plays and the AC is on, with a display on screen saying "I'm fine my owner will be right back."'

To this, Musk simply replied: 'Yes.'

By including a message on the Model 3's main screen, it would notify people that the dog or child is OK.

Furthermore, another user suggested including the interior temperature on the screen as well - an idea that Musk seemed to like, replying in a tweet, 'Exactly.'

As with most of Musk's ideas born on Twitter, there's no guarantee this feature will ever launch in subsequent Tesla software updates.     

-Daily Mail