Home

Tesla

News

Tesla Sentry Mode Now Includes A 'Darth Vader' Feature

Learn how you can use Tesla Sentry Mode to access the 'Dark Side' of the force.

tesla sentry mode new feature

EVANNEX EVANNEX

By: EVANNEX

Nov 6, 2021 at 9:07am ET

Add InsideEVs as a preferred source in Google

Share

Comment

This article comes to us courtesy of EVANNEX, which makes and sells aftermarket Tesla accessories. The opinions expressed therein are not necessarily our own at InsideEVs, nor have we been paid by EVANNEX to publish these articles. We find the company's perspective as an aftermarket supplier of Tesla accessories interesting and are happy to share its content free of charge. Enjoy!

Posted on EVANNEX on November 06, 2021, by Iqtidar Ali

In Tesla's recent software update, the company released a new security feature that enables Tesla owners to remotely view what’s happening around their vehicles in real-time using their mobile phones. This feature is called Sentry Mode Live Camera Access (read release notes and requirements). And it may also allow you to use the 'dark side' of the force. We'll explain. 

Above: No, Tesla's software update won't literally transform you into Darth Vader (Twitter: RJDM Studios)

Aside from being able to watch around the car from a remote location, there's an especially cool feature Tesla implemented as well. While you've opened the live camera view of your parked Tesla, you can also speak to those in close proximity to your vehicle. And you can turn your voice ominous if desired.

How? Well, this Tesla feature will allow you to lower and amplify your voice via an external speaker installed under the car. Teslas built after January 2019 have a special speaker installed as part of the pedestrian warning system, a requirement by the NHTSA.

A Tesla Model X owner recently demonstrated the talkback feature (via mobile phone) in a short Twitter video.

 

Tesla owners will now be able to warn potential vandals by issuing verbal warnings from a remote location. This should help to decrease cases of Tesla vandalism that have, unfortunately, intermittently occurred in the past.

Social media first helped spread awareness of Tesla's Sentry Mode and eventually sparked widespread coverage of random vandalism cases across the mainstream media. Thankfully, knowing that a Tesla is recording any potential act of vandalism via multiple cameras has lowered the number of cases.

One of these instances was a well-known Bay Area case where two vandals keyed a Tesla Model 3 multiple times not knowing the car was recording them. Later on, these guys turned themselves in to the police as the videos went viral and aired on national television. 

YouTube video player

Above: Sentry Mode talkback feature in action (YouTube: TLOBB)

In any event, check out the video (see above) as a Tesla owner demonstrates the whole process on his phone using the talkback function on his Tesla Model 3. Ummm, just don't start abusing this new feature by trying to sound like you're the Dark Lord about to break some bad news to Luke Skywalker.

Check Out More Tesla Sentry Mode Articles:

What do you think?

View

Comments

===

Written by: Iqtidar Ali. An earlier version of this article was originally published by Tesla Oracle. Revised update edited by EVANNEX.

Source: Evannex

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Insideevs.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The InsideEVs team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@insideevs.com

View all comments ( )

Trending

I Took A Rivian R2 On A Camping Trip To The Middle Of The Desert

I Took A Rivian R2 On A Camping Trip To The Middle Of The Desert

Solid-State Cells Can Make The U.S. Competitive In Batteries Again: CEO

Solid-State Cells Can Make The U.S. Competitive In Batteries Again: CEO

BYD's Futuristic EV Charger Can Run On Sunshine And Batteries

BYD's Futuristic EV Charger Can Run On Sunshine And Batteries

Google’s Gemini AI Assistant Now Works On Apple CarPlay

Google’s Gemini AI Assistant Now Works On Apple CarPlay

Latest Stories

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU



America's 3 Most Popular SUVs Are About To Be Hybrid Or Electric



A Record Number Of Uber Miles Are Happening In EVs



Tesla’s Cheapest Cybertruck Ever Is An RC Racer That Goes 37 MPH



Slate Is Selling A $30 'Screenless GPS' For Its Low-Tech Truck



Tesla Extends Cybertruck Production Run To Work Through Order Backlog



The 2026 Chevy Silverado EV Trail Boss Makes No Sense. I Loved It Anyway



Tesla Is Squeezing More Money Out Of The Cybertruck Before It Dies