Reddit user summons Tesla Model X from puddle of rainwater

To avoid a rather sizable puddle of rainwater, a Reddit user employed a helpful piece of Tesla technology, the "Summon" feature.

The video, uploaded Thursday, shows a Tesla Model X inching out of a mildly-flooded parking space and then opening its front door for the driver.

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The summon feature certainly isn't new -- it was introduced in an early 2016 software update -- but it's an instance of how Tesla's self-driving hardware and software are being used in a functional manner, though avoiding puddles is hardly a major solution to a pressing human problem.

Tesla drivers can activate Summon on their phones, and although the car is technically self-driving at the time, the feature is only meant to move the vehicle a maximum of 39 feet.

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Tesla has far grander ambitions for both its autonomous driving and summon features. As Tesla stated during the 2016 release of the feature:

"Eventually, your Tesla will be able to drive anywhere across the country to meet you, charging itself along the way. It will sync with your calendar to know exactly when to arrive."

Also in 2016, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that henceforth all Teslas would be built with the cameras and hardware necessary to fulfill this completely self-driving dream. But, Tesla is still developing the sophisticated software necessary to allow these cars to truly drive on their own -- and perhaps be summoned from afar.

For now, Telsa's self-driving Autopilot software still requires drivers to be fully engaged and ready to react when at the wheel. Earlier this week, a Tesla Model S Sedan collided with a firetruck on a Los Angeles freeway. The driver claims the Tesla was operating in Autopilot -- although law enforcement is still investigating the veracity of this claim (Either way, the driver would be at fault, as the software requires human intervention).

Tesla is not the only automaker that has developed summoning or auto-parking technology. BMW has been developing its own self-parking technology, which requires holding down a button on the car's key fob.

Tesla's summoning technology was originally intended to help cars both park in and get off out of tight spots. But the avoidance of puddles is an interesting application of a feature that's just in its nascent stages.

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