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Aptera will integrate its Openpilot driver assistance system with its electric three-wheeler, giving the vehicle, which is classified as an autocycle, technology similar to that of a passenger car.
Openpilot will add adaptive cruise control, lane centering and forward collision warning, along with a driver monitoring system that ensures drivers will stay alert at all times, according to an Aptera press release. Driver monitoring, which uses a camera to read the driver’s facial expressions for signs of distraction, eliminates the need for torque sensors on the steering wheel, enabling hands-free driving, claims Aptera.
Created by Comma.ai, the software behind Openpilot is open-source, with the code available on GitHub. Comma.ai claims this system is compatible with more than 200 models from top brands such as Toyota, Honda and Hyundai. Individual car owners can retrofit their vehicles with the system using a $1,499 kit that includes three cameras, a GPS unit, a processor, and an OLED display.
Openpilot driver monitoring
Aptera plans to develop specific codes for its own vehicles, for future updates such as the ability to recognize stop signs and red lights, and a “navigate on Openpilot” feature that allows the vehicle to follow directions from the navigation system.
Aptera views Openpilot as the most efficient way to add driver assistance technology to its vehicles, both in terms of energy consumption (the system uses 1/10 the power of conventional systems, Aptera claims) and cost.
“While Openpilot has far outpaced nearly any driver assistance system on the market today, the major automotive players have not embraced it,” said Chris McCammon, Openpilot Aptera integration lead, in a statement. “They continue to spend hundreds of millions of dollars developing their own inferior systems, while Openpilot is open source software that anyone can implement for free.”
Aptera EV prototype with Openpilot driver assistance system
However, it appears that the Aptera vehicles will be delivered ready for Openpilot but will not actually come with the system. Early customers may have to do the installation themselves like other Openpilot users.
“Aptera is currently working out the details on how Openpilot will be integrated into their vehicles,” according to a company press release. “Several validation steps are planned to be completed ahead of the start of production of the Launch Edition vehicle. Aptera aims to deliver Openpilot-enabled vehicles and ship compatible hardware after delivery for customer installation in under 30 minutes. ”
Interest in autonomous technology has stalled compared to a few years ago, so it’s a cost-effective solution for startups like Aptera, which also don’t have to worry about passenger vehicle standards. His three-wheeled vehicle is considered a motorcycle—and safety standards approach those of a motorcycle.
Aptera says the EV will be offered with a range of up to 1,000 miles. It will get 2170 cells from EVE Energy, and it will source the wheel motor from Elaphe Slovenia. The travel-friendly driver assistance system should go well with its DC fast charging, which is now planned for the 400-mile Launch Edition.
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