Slate Pickup driving on parking garage (video)

[Tran]

Slate pickup driving around a bit on parking garage being positioned for photos in this article.

 

[ValkorTheOptimistic]

I hate flickering PWM lights.
Yes, I know that the visible flicker here is an artifact of camera frame rate, but it just reminds me that poorly implemented PWM dimming is visible, and I hate it. I'm sure I could calculate the frequency here if I knew the frame rate, but I just hope that Slate does this right.

My first DIY just might be lights, and I hope that the base implementation allows it.
I want amber turn indicators on the taillights.
I want DIMMER headlights so I don't blind the poor shmuck in front of me.
Same thing with automatic high beams. Disable that completely.

 

[bloo]

I hate flickering PWM lights.
Yes, I know that the visible flicker here is an artifact of camera frame rate, but it just reminds me that poorly implemented PWM dimming is visible, and I hate it. I'm sure I could calculate the frequency here if I knew the frame rate, but I just hope that Slate does this right.

My first DIY just might be lights, and I hope that the base implementation allows it.
I want amber turn indicators on the taillights.
I want DIMMER headlights so I don't blind the poor shmuck in front of me.
Same thing with automatic high beams. Disable that completely.

I thought I was the only one who noticed PWMs. A lot of the older ones flickered real bad coz the frequency was too low. Kinda like watching CRT televisions in Asia at 50 Hertz.

The newer LEDs are a lot better with flicker, so I think Slate will be okay there. Although nothing beats a resistor for simplicity or reliability - if not efficiency.

 

[Bayfire2441]

I hate flickering PWM lights.
Yes, I know that the visible flicker here is an artifact of camera frame rate, but it just reminds me that poorly implemented PWM dimming is visible, and I hate it. I'm sure I could calculate the frequency here if I knew the frame rate, but I just hope that Slate does this right.

My first DIY just might be lights, and I hope that the base implementation allows it.
I want amber turn indicators on the taillights.
I want DIMMER headlights so I don't blind the poor shmuck in front of me.
Same thing with automatic high beams. Disable that completely.

I was wondering if anyone else here cared about having amber turn signals. I've noticed that the upgraded LED taillight option is the only taillight in the Slate Maker with a clear lens so hopefully that will allow it.

 

[TomFrank]

I would certainly prefer amber rear turn signals but I don't think that's in the cards. I got the impression that the standard front turn signals and taillights are single LED bulbs with reflectors and lenses, and the upgrades are LED grids (4x4 front and 12x3 rear with the center 2 as reverse lights) with pre-programmed animations (selected via the app) but front is amber only and rear red only. Either way, I'm going with the upgrade.

 

[Luxrage]

I would certainly prefer amber rear turn signals but I don't think that's in the cards. I got the impression that the standard front turn signals and taillights are single LED bulbs

I sent them an email a while back and got verification it's just a single bulb. Shame, was hoping it'd be a pair for redundancy or one being the turn signal that we could make amber.

 

[ZuliMuli]

That turn radius look a little worrying, I hope that's just a small parking garage.

 

[metroshot]

I hate flickering PWM lights.
Yes, I know that the visible flicker here is an artifact of camera frame rate, but it just reminds me that poorly implemented PWM dimming is visible, and I hate it. I'm sure I could calculate the frequency here if I knew the frame rate, but I just hope that Slate does this right.

My first DIY just might be lights, and I hope that the base implementation allows it.
I want amber turn indicators on the taillights.
I want DIMMER headlights so I don't blind the poor shmuck in front of me.
Same thing with automatic high beams. Disable that completely.

Lots of modern vehicles have this feature for energy savings, less diode heating and overall life.

My BEV has a lot of them from the internal motion sensors, eye tracking IR lights, license plate lights, interior lighting and the parking lights.

I don't notice them when I drive because the human eye does not see the pulse rates.

 

[ValkorTheOptimistic]

Lots of modern vehicles have this feature for energy savings, less diode heating and overall life.

My BEV has a lot of them from the internal motion sensors, eye tracking IR lights, license plate lights, interior lighting and the parking lights.

I don't notice them when I drive because the human eye does not see the pulse rates.

Yes, to paraphrase a comment from elsewhere on the internet, "Bad PWM is bad". I believe those are the ones that you see flickering in your rear view mirror, in your peripheral vision, or when you turn your head. The oncoming strobing ones have to be just plain defective. I hope that the cost reductions in the Slate truck still allow for a high-quality PWM driver.

I sent them an email a while back and got verification it's just a single bulb. Shame, was hoping it'd be a pair for redundancy or one being the turn signal that we could make amber.

I have no idea what "animated" tail lights would actually look like on the multi bulb upgrade, but if there's one that only blinks half the lights, I'll take my soldering iron to it and change out those LEDs.

 

[Johnny5]

Seems to me there's enough thought about the lights, that there might be aftermarket options. It seems like every part of the truck is just a playground for 3d printer enthusiasts.

I kinda of wish my old truck had some better backup lights, as I'm often backing into dark camp sites. My driveway is also hella dark, but I haven't moved yet to investing in a light bar or some such. Maybe my Slate will get some additional lights in the tailgate or bumper. Maybe running lights down the side? That might be a handy kind of fancy. I dunno.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

I first became aware of flickering leds when driving at night. If you move your head, you'll see a trail of little red dots. That's the led taillights being processed by your brain. They get processed as steady until your head turns.