This is a possible way for some Self Driving capabilities for Slate

[Monkfruit]

I'm wondering if the DIY nature of Slate will allow for some type of self driving capabilities using Comma.AI and OpenPilot

openpilot is an open-source, semi-automated driving software by comma.ai, Inc. When paired with comma hardware, it replaces advanced driver-assistance systems in various cars. As of 2025, openpilot supports 325+ car models and has 10 000+ users, accumulating over 100 million miles (160,000,000 km).

https://comma.ai/vehicles

Not for everyone but I think some tinkerers will like making this happen.

 

[RichEmp]

you would need adaptive cruise control and lane centering at the veery least for comma.ai.

 

[phidauex]

Doesn't OpenPilot rely on the vehicle's included ADAS systems, both hardware (motorized steering racks, radar, cameras, etc.) and software? IE, it takes over the commands for those existing systems, rather than replacing the systems. If so, that would prevent it from working on something like the Slate. But maybe there are more aftermarket elements that I'm not aware of.

 

[beatle]

I think it would be a stretch without some kind of built in ADAS, even a rudimentary one, but it might not be impossible.

I think at most, Openpilot could get you some level of adaptive cruise since it would effectively just take over the throttle control which is "easy," but it wouldn't guarantee to have the ability to brake any harder than regen. AEB technically isn't a hard requirement yet in the US, not until 2029. The Slate may intentionally not include it to save money, especially on early trucks. Once you have AEB though, you could technically control the friction brakes with electronics and have a bigger range for Openpilot.

I'm not sure if the power steering motor has the strength to turn the wheel on its own, or if it can be controlled at all for automatic steering. It may require a harness change.

Maybe not a lost cause, but I think it would require more development than most, and may still have less functionality initially, but I don't think the answer is a hard no.

 

[metroshot]

Costs would be expensive to upgrade the Slate with added cameras, lane centering, radar and brake/throttle/steering motor controls.

My Ford has a pretty good system called BlueCruise.

I use it on long distance driving - saves a lot of driver workload and arrives to the destination relaxed.

Last time I didn't notice my charge was not full and while it was on BlueCruise & navigation, it rerouted my drive off the highway and to a fast charger that I never knew existed for a quick 10 minute charge.

Ford BlueCruise 1.5 in Mach E

 

[Sparkie]

I'm wondering if the DIY nature of Slate will allow for some type of self driving capabilities using Comma.AI and OpenPilot

openpilot is an open-source, semi-automated driving software by comma.ai, Inc. When paired with comma hardware, it replaces advanced driver-assistance systems in various cars. As of 2025, openpilot supports 325+ car models and has 10 000+ users, accumulating over 100 million miles (160,000,000 km).

https://comma.ai/vehicles

Not for everyone but I think some tinkerers will like making this happen.

Yeah, it's not for me.
Actually, I enjoy driving -- from quick grocery runs to cross-country road trips.

 

[Johnny5]

It seems like another vehicle might be better to start with a self driving project. That's just a gang of hardware to add.

 

[beatle]

Openpilot includes the ADAS camera/brain and uses the existing controls to drive the car. I think they have camera-only branches that don't require radar integration. You can even install Openpilot hardware on a vehicle with BlueCruise, though I've found BC to be pretty good now.

I like driving and road trips more than the average bear, but having a good ADAS system to soak up boring highway or stop and go miles is pretty nice. I don't blame Slate for not including this in the truck though. Good ADAS are complex and expensive, bad ones are worse than nothing at all.

 

[Johnologue]

AEB technically isn't a hard requirement yet in the US, not until 2029. The Slate may intentionally not include it to save money, especially on early trucks.

Slate's specs identify AEB on the feature list.

I do think that, if someone wants to do their own self-driving or AI experiments or whatever, the Slate is a much better starting point than a vehicle that already has self-driving and such built-in, since it wouldn't require defeating or bypassing the existing system.

Automakers wouldn't want people overriding their software-defined vehicles. They might "pirate" the extra 20 horsepower instead of paying the subscription, or turn off tracking!

I mean, safety and privacy.

 

[The Weatherman]

Without a motorized or hydraulic steering mechanism there is no way for a comma unit to control the car. Plus someone has to develop the code to manage the vehicle. If it had the ADAS functionality, it’s still unlikely there would be enough demand for the $1k Comma in such a budget truck.

 

[E90400K]

The idea is stupid.

 

[beatle]

Doing some more research on this, the EPS motor probably couldn't be used for autosteer on its own as the truck doesn't have auto steering to begin with. It relies on your input and then augments that with the EPS motor. If Openpilot takes over, it wouldn't have that input. It would be trying to steer the car on its own, and this could trigger a fault in the truck's ECU that something is screwy with the EPS, especially since the torque needed to turn the wheel without you is often limited, so its power is pathetic and will give up on anything but the slightest curve.

But still, this has been done before on the Civic by loading new firmware to the steering rack that bypasses the torque limit and enables autosteer: https://jrdsgl.com/how-to-modify-your-civics-eps-firmware-with-a-comma3x/

That said, there are a lot more Civics out there than Slates, even if the factory is actually building 150k of them a year.

So again, probably not impossible but pretty unlikely for a lot of reasons. I'd probably buy and install it since it would make my commute easier.

 

[Letas]

The idea is stupid.

Comma as a whole is pretty neat, in my opinion. At minimum, a cool proof of concept. It’s difficult to find pure data on whether it is safer or not than a human driver, but my biases lead me to believe yes.

That being said, I’d be willing to bet $$ it won’t be compatible with the Slate. At least not a standard “gen 1” Slate, without significant modifications.

 

[GaRailroader]

Obviously Slate won't have ADAS on day 1 put perhaps in the 2nd or 3rd model year they might add that enhancement. That is a prerequisite for a Comma AI overlay system to work. I have been using Auto Pilot and FSD for almost 8 years now and that would be the biggest compromise for me in getting a Slate. I couldn't care less that the windows are manual and it doesn't have infotainment but I would hate to take a trip or a commute in Atlanta traffic without lane keep and adaptive cruise.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Obviously Slate won't have ADAS on day 1 put perhaps in the 2nd or 3rd model year they might add that enhancement.

I've wondered about Slate's future models and what kind of extra features they might consider.

Then it reminds me of Queen's first albums where they proudly proclaimed "No Synthesizers!" lol.