Tesla Cybercab Replaces Traditional Steering With Touchscreen Joystick Control
The autonomous vehicle features a large virtual steering interface on its main display as a backup to fully autonomous driving.
The Tesla Cybercab departs from conventional vehicle design by replacing a traditional steering wheel with a digital alternative housed within the vehicle's main infotainment system. Rather than a conventional control mechanism, drivers can access a virtual joystick displayed on the oversized central screen to command the vehicle when autonomous driving is unavailable or not preferred.
This design choice reflects Tesla's commitment to autonomous vehicle development, where the vehicle handles most driving tasks independently. The large on-screen joystick serves as a manual override option, maintaining driver control without requiring dedicated physical hardware.
The integration of steering controls into the infotainment display represents a significant departure from automotive convention, prioritizing space and functionality for autonomous operation over traditional driver interface expectations.