Upgrade Gen1 cameras to Gen2?

[dfacto]

Ohh there is. But finding a camera that fits in the hole the current ones live In is the easy part.

Because then you'll have to figure out how to hack into the car's operating to system to gain root access and replace the OS with a custom one that you wrote that won't crash when it receives the wrong number of pixels from that new camera.

And while you are at it you might as well whip up some carplay software too.

Maybe. Maybe not.

I bet that if you find a replacement camera that operates at Gen 2 resolution then it "just works" and this because (a) the os is Android (which can handle different resolutions and btw doesn't really handle resolution anyway) and (b) it's actually just the UI that needs to handle the different resolution and it already does because gen2 exists.

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[Ecupip]

Id start with replacing the front or rear bumper cameras to see if they were interchangeable and worked. If they did, then you could extend replacing the mirror cameras. The spoiler camera and fender cameras could be left as is.

I’m also interested in trying the 2025 headlights to see if the adaptive high beam function is controlled by the zonal computers or one attached to the headlight module.

 

[JamboF4]

You mean 1.6 miles

Picky picky! Haha

 

[Zoidz]

There must be a way. Power communication it’s there. Just change the actual camera pixels.

It’s not that simple. If you change the pixel density/resolution, then all of the image processing software has to be rewritten. For all we know, the MobilEye image processing ASIC / SOC (Rivian Gen 1 uses version 2) may dictate the max resolution/pixel count. ADAS, stitching, etc. breaks unless the entire firmware and possibly hardware is updated. They are not going to do that. This is not a Windows PC where you can just plug and play a new camera. It’s an OEM package.

 

[Tucker74]

This thread has some of the worst comments I’ve ever read, of course you could replace the cameras if you wanted to bad enough. No matter what they did with the harness, it still has wiring going to each camera. It’s unlikely the harness plugs changed being bin parts doing the same thing, but they could have and you can certainly swap pins in a plug being you have the ones that work. Android certainly handles multiple resolution inputs, you might or might not be able to change the views to the higher resolution. Would it be easy, no. Would Rivian sell you the cameras, maybe (could acquire from salvage). I think changing the front and rear and seeing what happens would be interesting.

These are just trucks, there is nothing magic about Rivian hardware or software ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Zoidz]

This thread has some of the worst comments I’ve ever read, of course you could replace the cameras if you wanted to bad enough. No matter what they did with the harness, it still has wiring going to each camera. It’s unlikely the harness plugs changed being bin parts doing the same thing, but they could have and you can certainly swap pins in a plug being you have the ones that work. Android certainly handles multiple resolution inputs, you might or might not be able to change the views to the higher resolution. Would it be easy, no. Would Rivian sell you the cameras, maybe (could acquire from salvage). I think changing the front and rear and seeing what happens would be interesting.

These are just trucks, there is nothing magic about Rivian hardware or software ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The cameras are processed by MobilEye, a layer below Android.

If it is so easy to do as you suggest and can reuse the same wiring, please prove me wrong by doing it.

 

[Tucker74]

The cameras are processed by MobilEye, a layer below Android.

This is likely for the image composition, would be interesting to see what the straight feeds look like just hooking up a higher resolution camera. Not saying this is a plug and play mod, but it would be interesting to tinker and see.

 

[emlo]

This thread has some of the worst comments I’ve ever read, of course you could replace the cameras if you wanted to bad enough. No matter what they did with the harness, it still has wiring going to each camera. It’s unlikely the harness plugs changed being bin parts doing the same thing, but they could have and you can certainly swap pins in a plug being you have the ones that work. Android certainly handles multiple resolution inputs, you might or might not be able to change the views to the higher resolution. Would it be easy, no. Would Rivian sell you the cameras, maybe (could acquire from salvage). I think changing the front and rear and seeing what happens would be interesting.

These are just trucks, there is nothing magic about Rivian hardware or software ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Respectfully VW finds Rivian software magical

 

[Riviot]

Id start with replacing the front or rear bumper cameras to see if they were interchangeable and worked. If they did, then you could extend replacing the mirror cameras. The spoiler camera and fender cameras could be left as is.

It’s unlikely the harness plugs changed being bin parts doing the same thing, but they could have and you can certainly swap pins in a plug being you have the ones that work.

I'll use front camera as an example of why you cannot interchange cameras. You're gonna get me slapped for this.

Gen1 has a single plug. Gen2 has 2 plugs, power and data. Even the mounting points have changed.

2022 Gen1 R1T
PT00047083-A
$459.93
ASSY_CAMERA_SURROUND_FRONT_BRACKET

2025 Gen2 R1T
I can't even tell you the part number because it isn't in the parts catalog, nor are side or rear cameras.

(Replaced pic after initial post to avoid slaps)

Hell, even the grill changed.

Gen1
PT00080432-D
$294.68
SVC - GRILL_UPPER_FRONT_FASCIA_ADAS

Gen2
PT00796877-A
$294.68
ASY_GRILL_FRONT_FASCIA_PEREGRINE

 

[Tucker74]

I'll use front camera as an example of why you cannot interchange cameras. You're gonna get me slapped for this.

Gen1 has a single plug. Gen2 has 2 plugs, power and data. Even the mounting points have changed.

At least we are talking tech now, I can respect that and see what you mean here. You could likely go to a higher resolution camera, but not the Gen2 factory camera. I’m guessing it does more for the self-driving features to warrant two harnesses (lidar?). I just hate the “we can’t do anything to these trucks” sentiment around here was my angst ?

 

[godfodder0901]

At least we are talking tech now, I can respect that and see what you mean here. You could likely go to a higher resolution camera, but not the Gen2 factory camera. I’m guessing it does more for the self-driving features to warrant two harnesses (lidar?). I just hate the “we can’t do anything to these trucks” sentiment around here was my angst ?

This comment makes no sense. Do you even know what LiDaR is? The harness is different because the entire imaging architecture is different. The cameras are not the only thing that changed. Every piece of hardware and software in the image processing chain is different.

Could you upgrade the cameras? Technically, yes, but it would require upgrading the entire hardware and software stack. It would be significantly cheaper and easier to just buy a complete Gen 2 outright.

 

[Riviot]

Changing any camera, or any part that has a camera, also requires a very time consuming ADAS calibration that involves signs and mats of specific sizes at specific distances. I won't be posting those pictures.

 

[Tucker74]

This comment makes no sense. Do you even know what LiDaR is? The harness is different because the entire imaging architecture is different. The cameras are not the only thing that changed. Every piece of hardware and software in the image processing chain is different.

Could you upgrade the cameras? Technically, yes, but it would require upgrading the entire hardware and software stack. It would be significantly cheaper and easier to just buy a complete Gen 2 outright.

I love the internet, everyone is free to be a complete ass towards everyone else. Yes I know what LiDAR is (Light Detection and Ranging), and I also know many modern ADAS are using integrated LiDAR+RGB cameras. This was complete speculation, but not a comment of stupidity. Good luck with your superiority complex bud.

 

[jpmc86]

I'll use front camera as an example of why you cannot interchange cameras. You're gonna get me slapped for this.

Gen1 has a single plug. Gen2 has 2 plugs, power and data. Even the mounting points have changed.

2022 Gen1 R1T
PT00047083-A
$459.93
ASSY_CAMERA_SURROUND_FRONT_BRACKET

2025 Gen2 R1T
I can't even tell you the part number because it isn't in the parts catalog, nor are side or rear cameras.

View attachment 124085

Hell, even the grill changed.

Gen1
PT00080432-D
$294.68
SVC - GRILL_UPPER_FRONT_FASCIA_ADAS

Gen2
PT00796877-A
$294.68
ASY_GRILL_FRONT_FASCIA_PEREGRINE

That’s not entirely accurate. The second plug you see on G2 is the washer fluid inlet, not power. Agreed, they are different mostly because of this.

 

[Riviot]

That’s not entirely accurate. The second plug you see on G2 is the washer fluid inlet, not power. Agreed, they are different mostly because of this.

That data port looking plug is fluid? Point me at a junker Gen2 and I'll order the camera. There are plenty of Gen1 to strip parts from, newer are harder to find.

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