Autosteer and Adaptive Cruise Control

[cvollers]

Interesting. That’s a fully vertical solution which is unlike what a few on this thread have been arguing for. Like you, I doubt anyone will be taking the Slate on highway trips long enough for something like BlueCruise to make sense.

From 2024. No lawsuits filed against Ford so far but the investigations might lead to legal action and/or recalls.

 

[cadblu]

While this debate is indeed entertaining, why doesn’t the OP and/or others in support of 3rd party autonomous driving software get an official read from SA? Lately their marketing and communications team have been most responsive to questions. If you do get a response, please do share with the group.

Let’s review from Slate’s perspective…. startup company with minimal tech as one of their selling points on its ‘back to basics’ vehicle. A company with zero cash flow (other than investors and $50 reservation deposits) struggling to make a profit as they will spend nearly $1B on a factory, tooling, salaries, and capital equipment in the next 18 months. A company in a hiring frenzy to fill about 2000 jobs in the same time period. A company who hasn’t even worked out a vehicle warranty as they work to develop their supply chain. A company that will avoid taking on more risk and liability as it tries to establish itself in a highly competitive industry.

 

[cvollers]

While this debate is indeed entertaining, why doesn’t the OP and/or others in support of 3rd party autonomous driving software get an official read from SA? Lately their marketing and communications team have been most responsive to questions. If you do get a response, please do share with the group.

Let’s review from Slate’s perspective…. startup company with minimal tech as one of their selling points on its ‘back to basics’ vehicle. A company with zero cash flow (other than investors and $50 reservation deposits) struggling to make a profit as they will spend nearly $1B on a factory, tooling, salaries, and capital equipment in the next 18 months. A company in a hiring frenzy to fill about 2000 jobs in the same time period. A company who hasn’t even worked out a vehicle warranty as they work to develop their supply chain. A company that will avoid taking on more risk and liability as it tries to establish itself in a highly competitive industry.

Well said.

 

[sodamo]

It’s an entirely different level from bolting down seats, roll bar, and plugging in connectors for airbags to an autonomous vehicle system. Not even remotely comparable in technical expertise needed.

I have to wonder about the new generation of “drivers” coming up.
if all they have known are these self drive features, what will happen when encountering a massive failure and they have no clue how to react.

 

[KJRaven]

Ford puts the responsibility with the driver.

Since the system uses eye tracking sensors, it will tell you if you are getting sleepy and to pull over for coffee.
And if you start texting or fiddling with your mobile, it will warn you and then cut off BlueCruise - handing the controls back to you.

I think it's a lot safer than Tesla FSD option.

I have driven long distances using BlueCruise for over 5,000 miles and no mishap or close calls.

The comma.ai system uses an eye tracking camera as well, https://comma.ai/support#do-i-have-to-pay-attention " When openpilot is engaged, a driver monitoring system actively tracks driver awareness to help prevent distractions. The openpilot system disengages if you are distracted. Drivers must keep their eyes on the road at all times and be ready to take control of the car. "

I think that if you guys did some research into the product that we are suggesting you would be more open to the idea of it.

If slate just doesnt get in the way we could add features that Ford's BlueCruise offers for about $1000 and an hour of our time. Yes it opens me up to some liability, but that doesnt mean that I shouldnt be able to make that decision.

If slate chooses to communicate with comma.ai, then who knows, they could be competing with Tesla FSD for a fraction of the cost, in a way that follows their identity of a DIY, add features as you go vehicle. It is just another feature that some would choose to add.

If slate chooses to activly block comma.ai they will have to spend resources to do so, from what i can tell there are some very smart people working on the project and they will find the workarounds to get the system working at some level, but it will not be as safe or fully featured as it could be.

 

[metroshot]

From 2024. No lawsuits filed against Ford so far but the investigations might lead to legal action and/or recalls.

Most likely they put a weight on the steering wheel to simulate a driver or else they were not paying attention to the road.

Very typical of those that want to game the system.

I don't cheat the system - if it says pull over for coffee, I do.
If it says take control because it can't read the lane markings, I do.
Never drive when you are tired.

 

[E90400K]

Technology liability costs are factored into the MSRP. The less tech in the product reduces the overall MSRP.

 

[Letas]

I have to wonder about the new generation of “drivers” coming up.
if all they have known are these self drive features, what will happen when encountering a massive failure and they have no clue how to react.

Tech changes and people adapt. We didn't shy away from auto start cars because we didn't want the next gen to not know how to crank start a car. We didn't shy away from automatic transmissions because the next gen wouldn't know how to drive a manual.

There is significant data showing that these tools are safer. Not perfect, no, but safer. Like anything, they require change.

 

[KJRaven]

while doing some more background checking on this i found that Aptera is integrating with the comma.ai openpilot system. I dont know much about Aptera or how they integrate openpilot into their vehicles, but there is at least precident in the market to adopt this solution.

https://aptera.us/openpilot-release/

I would love for it to be an option that we could easily add to the blank slate as a kit from Slate. But I would settle for the ability to do it aftermarket.

 

[E90400K]

Tech changes and people adapt. We didn't shy away from auto start cars because we didn't want the next gen to not know how to crank start a car. We didn't shy away from automatic transmissions because the next gen wouldn't know how to drive a manual.

There is significant data showing that these tools are safer. Not perfect, no, but safer. Like anything, they require change.

Let's just be real for a second. All this ADAS tech was invented because people drive distracted with their smart phones, so manufacturers could reduce their product liability costs. Then Tesla came along and attached a laptop to the dashboard massively increasing distracted driving; the cat was now out of the bag.

I think a lot of Slate prospective owners want to go back to less tech and have a more interactive driving environment. While one can use a tablet or smart phone in the Slate, one doesn't have too.

 

[Letas]

Let's just be real for a second. All this ADAS tech was invented because people drive distracted with their smart phones, so manufacturers could reduce their product liability costs. Then Tesla came along and attached a laptop to the dashboard massively increasing distracted driving; the cat was now out of the bag.

I think a lot of Slate prospective owners want to go back to less tech and have a more interactive driving environment. While one can use a tablet or smart phone in the Slate, one doesn't have too.

As long as drivers have a magic tool in their pocket that gives access to the world, they will be distracted. I interact with my phone magnitudes more than my screen while driving.

The Slate is not an "old school" truck. It is a new school EV with a mask on it.

 

[KJRaven]

As long as drivers have a magic tool in their pocket that gives access to the world, they will be distracted. I interact with my phone magnitudes more than my screen while driving.

The Slate is not an "old school" truck. It is a new school EV with a mask on it.

I think the beauty of Slate is that it can be whatever the owner wants it to be. I want it to be a small EV pickup that has some modern tech in it that doesnt cost more than my first house!

 

[cvollers]

The comma.ai system uses an eye tracking camera as well, https://comma.ai/support#do-i-have-to-pay-attention " When openpilot is engaged, a driver monitoring system actively tracks driver awareness to help prevent distractions. The openpilot system disengages if you are distracted. Drivers must keep their eyes on the road at all times and be ready to take control of the car. "

I think that if you guys did some research into the product that we are suggesting you would be more open to the idea of it.

If slate just doesnt get in the way we could add features that Ford's BlueCruise offers for about $1000 and an hour of our time. Yes it opens me up to some liability, but that doesnt mean that I shouldnt be able to make that decision.

If slate chooses to communicate with comma.ai, then who knows, they could be competing with Tesla FSD for a fraction of the cost, in a way that follows their identity of a DIY, add features as you go vehicle. It is just another feature that some would choose to add.

If slate chooses to activly block comma.ai they will have to spend resources to do so, from what i can tell there are some very smart people working on the project and they will find the workarounds to get the system working at some level, but it will not be as safe or fully featured as it could be.

Good luck with this.

 

[E90400K]

As long as drivers have a magic tool in their pocket that gives access to the world, they will be distracted. I interact with my phone magnitudes more than my screen while driving.

The Slate is not an "old school" truck. It is a new school EV with a mask on it.

That's a discipline issue not solvable by any amount of technology.

 

[cvollers]

while doing some more background checking on this i found that Aptera is integrating with the comma.ai openpilot system. I dont know much about Aptera or how they integrate openpilot into their vehicles, but there is at least precident in the market to adopt this solution.

https://aptera.us/openpilot-release/

I would love for it to be an option that we could easily add to the blank slate as a kit from Slate. But I would settle for the ability to do it aftermarket.

I just saw a press release that Telo is going all in with comma.ai. Problem solved.