Aptera Motors has just announced plans to utilize an open-source driver assistance system called “openpilot” for its production model solar electric vehicles (SEVs).
Notably, the openpilot is recognized as the leading driver assistance system by Consumer Reports.
The solar EV startup has been exerting its efforts and resources to achieve mass production. In hindsight, Aptera revealed the Launch Edition of its tri-wheel SEV, with 700-watt solar technology.
Now, we know that it will feature functions, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane centering owing to the openpilot. The driver monitoring system will constantly check drivers’ attention.
Aptera chose the leading driver assistance system in the market
Aptera’s engineers will apparently develop and monitor the appropriate code for its solar-powered electric vehicle to interact with the openpilot, per the press release.
Notably, comma.ai is the company that invented the open-source driver assistance system. However, there is currently no tie between the two businesses.
As mentioned, Consumer Reports acknowledged the openpilot as the #1 driver assistance system.
Apart from Tesla, openpilot is the only consumer system on the market that can brake at stop signs and red lights while only consuming a tenth of the energy.
That said, future owners should experience almost no efficiency loss when using driver assistance technology.
Chris McCammon, a longtime member of the openpilot community, is in charge of the Aptera integration. He gladly explained the progress of the openpilot since its inception in 2017.
“Since then, the software has matured immensely and now supports over 200 vehicle models with an easy-to-install kit. Even though openpilot has vastly surpassed nearly all driver assistance systems on the market today, big auto players have not embraced it. They continue to throw hundreds of millions of dollars into developing their own inferior systems, while openpilot is open-source software that anyone can implement for free.”
Chris McCammon
See Also:
- California Energy Commission grants Aptera $21M to produce solar EVs
- Aptera ready to adopt DC fast charging for its solar EVs in future
- Aptera unveils the Launch Edition of its tri-wheel electric vehicle
- Aptera Motors introduces three-wheeled EV that offers up to 60km through solar energy alone
- Aptera to use Tesla’s charge connector in its solar electric car
In the video below, McCammon discusses openpilot and how future Aptera vehicles will include it:
