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I have mix feeling about comma.ai I like what they stand for and what they're trying to achieve. But after reading their Openpilot code, it seems completely irr

I have mix feeling about comma.ai I like what they stand for and what they're trying to achieve. But after reading their Openpilot code, it seems completely irresponsible releasing the Eon dev kit they way it is especially after their NHTSA stunt (I only reviewed the code when it first came out so things may have changed). I also wonder why this code is not being ported to something like a Jetson TX2. Especially with the new 4GB version priced at $199, I cannot see the argument of cost savings to using an OnePlus 3.

leesec 8y ago
The most recent Eon isn't a OnePlus 3 it's a LeEco LePro 3. I don't see how it's really irresponsible also, it is a relatively complicated set up ( getting easier all the time ), but people definitely are aware this isn't a fully fledged product and that they should be keeping an eye at all times.
- syntaxing 8y ago
  I was wondering what they were using since the Oneplus3 have been discontinued for so long. It's irresponsible because they wrote an apk that patches to a python script... They could at least have some portion written in some hardware language like C++, especially the safety check section. Also, when I first read it there was zero redundancy. They could at a minimum do a soft watchdog how ROS does it. Putting your Drive by Wire node and the logic processing all in one unit is a horrible idea. They should have one device to do the inference like the TX2 and another do the DBW (the LePro 3).
  - pd0wm 8y ago
    There is a microcontroller between the phone and the car that monitors all communication and enforces safety limits. This code is written in C++.
    - syntaxing 8y ago
      I thought the microcontroller in the middle was doing the CAN injection only. Is this no longer the case?
pd0wm 8y ago
Can you buy them for $199 in quantity? A phone is actually a very nice and reliable piece of hardware. It has everything you need CPU, GPU, DSP, two cameras (front and back), a backup battery, a screen and wifi/lte to upload your data.
- iancarroll 8y ago
  Unfortunately the code powering OpenPilot is not very reliable. As the OP alluded to it's time-sensitive code written in (very hard to understand) Python.
  - jerkstate 8y ago
    It's not really that time sensitive. The main event loop for something like this only has to run at like 50hz. I didn't find the code to be all that hard to understand either (at least the car interface bits needed to port to another car).
    - mikeash 8y ago
      That’s the sort of speed that has game developers, who can tolerate occasional pauses without getting anybody killed (although I’m sure some gamers act like they’re dying when it happens), avoiding memory allocations and tuning garbage collectors. That’s similar to how often the render callback for audio code will run, code where you carefully avoid taking locks or calling most system APIs and write the whole thing in C or simple C++ so implicit behaviors don’t result in audible glitches. Python is good for many things (my whole web site runs on it) but it’s completely unsuitable for this job.
    - bri3d 8y ago
      You're conflating speed and latency. The main event loop running at 50hz may or may not be fine, but a 50-100ms pause is certainly unacceptable, especially in the drive-by-wire / car interface components which are inexplicably combined with the entire platform and run on the same hardware.
    - rightbyte 8y ago
transistor-man 8y ago
Sorry, but where is a Jetson TX2 module available for <200$?
- sbr464 8y ago
  You can get a Jetson TX2 Kit (edu bundle for $299, I think normal is Around 599. https://www.nvidia.com/object/jetsontx2-edu-discount.html https://www.nvidia.com/object/jetsontx2-edu-discount.html
  - transistor-man 8y ago
    Thanks for taking the time to share the link, was interested in diving into the deep rabbit hole for a self-driving contraption and 300$ off is quite an incentive.
    - sbr464 8y ago
      Your welcome :) It’s a nice board for sure (I have a few). I personally use a more powerful desktop setup with a few nvidia 1080ti cards, mounted in a trunk of a 2017 Honda. The tx2 is definitely a good platform for a powerful RC car setup or similar, especially with the discount. When it comes down to it, during the dev/learning cycle, any general setup will do.
- syntaxing 8y ago
  Jetson Tx2 4GB module is expected to be <$200 and released in Q3 of 2019. It's expected to replace the TX1 in price but double the CUDA cores. It's pretty much a budget version of the current TX2 since Xavier started rolling out. [1]https://developer.nvidia.com/embedded/buy/jetson-tx2-4gb https://developer.nvidia.com/embedded/buy/jetson-tx2-4gb
  - rjeli 8y ago
    expected, expected, expected. nvidia doesn't care about the jetson line and they keep overpromising and underdelivering.

leesec 8y ago

The most recent Eon isn't a OnePlus 3 it's a LeEco LePro 3. I don't see how it's really irresponsible also, it is a relatively complicated set up ( getting easier all the time ), but people definitely are aware this isn't a fully fledged product and that they should be keeping an eye at all times.

syntaxing 8y ago
I was wondering what they were using since the Oneplus3 have been discontinued for so long. It's irresponsible because they wrote an apk that patches to a python script... They could at least have some portion written in some hardware language like C++, especially the safety check section. Also, when I first read it there was zero redundancy. They could at a minimum do a soft watchdog how ROS does it. Putting your Drive by Wire node and the logic processing all in one unit is a horrible idea. They should have one device to do the inference like the TX2 and another do the DBW (the LePro 3).
- pd0wm 8y ago
  There is a microcontroller between the phone and the car that monitors all communication and enforces safety limits. This code is written in C++.
  - syntaxing 8y ago
    I thought the microcontroller in the middle was doing the CAN injection only. Is this no longer the case?

pd0wm 8y ago

Can you buy them for $199 in quantity? A phone is actually a very nice and reliable piece of hardware. It has everything you need CPU, GPU, DSP, two cameras (front and back), a backup battery, a screen and wifi/lte to upload your data.

iancarroll 8y ago
Unfortunately the code powering OpenPilot is not very reliable. As the OP alluded to it's time-sensitive code written in (very hard to understand) Python.
- jerkstate 8y ago
  It's not really that time sensitive. The main event loop for something like this only has to run at like 50hz. I didn't find the code to be all that hard to understand either (at least the car interface bits needed to port to another car).
  - mikeash 8y ago
    That’s the sort of speed that has game developers, who can tolerate occasional pauses without getting anybody killed (although I’m sure some gamers act like they’re dying when it happens), avoiding memory allocations and tuning garbage collectors. That’s similar to how often the render callback for audio code will run, code where you carefully avoid taking locks or calling most system APIs and write the whole thing in C or simple C++ so implicit behaviors don’t result in audible glitches. Python is good for many things (my whole web site runs on it) but it’s completely unsuitable for this job.
  - bri3d 8y ago
    You're conflating speed and latency. The main event loop running at 50hz may or may not be fine, but a 50-100ms pause is certainly unacceptable, especially in the drive-by-wire / car interface components which are inexplicably combined with the entire platform and run on the same hardware.
  - rightbyte 8y ago

transistor-man 8y ago

Sorry, but where is a Jetson TX2 module available for <200$?

sbr464 8y ago
You can get a Jetson TX2 Kit (edu bundle for $299, I think normal is Around 599. https://www.nvidia.com/object/jetsontx2-edu-discount.html https://www.nvidia.com/object/jetsontx2-edu-discount.html
- transistor-man 8y ago
  Thanks for taking the time to share the link, was interested in diving into the deep rabbit hole for a self-driving contraption and 300$ off is quite an incentive.
  - sbr464 8y ago
    Your welcome :) It’s a nice board for sure (I have a few). I personally use a more powerful desktop setup with a few nvidia 1080ti cards, mounted in a trunk of a 2017 Honda. The tx2 is definitely a good platform for a powerful RC car setup or similar, especially with the discount. When it comes down to it, during the dev/learning cycle, any general setup will do.
syntaxing 8y ago
Jetson Tx2 4GB module is expected to be <$200 and released in Q3 of 2019. It's expected to replace the TX1 in price but double the CUDA cores. It's pretty much a budget version of the current TX2 since Xavier started rolling out. [1]https://developer.nvidia.com/embedded/buy/jetson-tx2-4gb https://developer.nvidia.com/embedded/buy/jetson-tx2-4gb
- rjeli 8y ago
  expected, expected, expected. nvidia doesn't care about the jetson line and they keep overpromising and underdelivering.