mpshizzle
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
The Youtube version of this has much more detail - So I recommend watching there:
If you drive a Rivian, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You get on the highway, you wait for that little icon to appear, you double-pull the stalk, and you let the R1 do the work. It’s great. Until it isn’t. Until the road isn't "mapped," and you’re back to driving like a peasant from 2015.
With Rivian’s Autonomy Day coming up, I think a lot of us are asking: Are we finally done with pre-mapped highways? I think the answer is yes. But also... no. It’s complicated.
Let me explain, starting with a weird thing that happened to me on my commute a few days ago.
Shortly after leaving home, I noticed my LTE connection decided to take a nap. Apple Music wouldn't load and no hotspot, despite having full bars. The odd part is that this error seemed to have also affected the Highway Assist mapping. Enhanced Highway Assist engaged normally as I merged onto the freeway. But after about a mile or two, it told me there was no road information and the system disengaged in an area where I normally have no issues. That's when I noticed something different about the driver's display. Usually, it shows the cars around me and the lane markings next to me. But when the map data cut out, the lanes outside of my specific lane just... vanished. The cars in those lanes were still present, but the markings for those lanes were just gone!
So... is the visualization of the other lanes on the road also somehow tied to the pre-mapping? Well, based on these events it seems so, at least to some degree!
SD vs. HD: It’s Not Just About Resolution
To understand why this matters, we have to nerd out for a second on the difference between SD Maps and HD Maps.
SD Mapping: This is Google Maps or Apple Maps. It knows that "I-15 goes North." It knows where the turn is. It’s a digital version of the paper atlas your dad used to keep in the glovebox.
HD Mapping: This layer knows exactly how wide the lane is (down to the inch), the curvature of the turn, and the exact height of the curb.
Right now, Rivian is addicted to HD maps. The vehicle uses them as "invisible rails." It knows where to drive because a survey team (most likely a 3rd party) drove there first and told the computer, "Okay, the lane is right here."
That’s why the system is so smooth when it works. But it’s also why it’s so brittle.
The "Construction Zone" Problem
The problem with relying on a memory of the road is that roads change. We’ve all seen those construction zones where the lanes shift aggressively to the left.
If the R1 is driving based on a map from three months ago, it "thinks" the lane goes straight. But the cameras see orange cones telling it to swerve. When the Map and the Eyes disagree, the vehicle gets confused and hands control back to you.
This is the "Geo-Lock." If Rivian hasn’t scanned the road, you can’t use the feature. It doesn't matter if the lane markings are perfect and visibility is 100 miles; if the map isn't there, the feature is dead. This is the approach the old Mobile Eye system used. And up until now, the Rivian Platform too, but I suspect this is changing.
The Future: Eyes Over Memory
We are moving from Map-First to Perception-First.
This is, I think, going to be one of the big underlying shifts that enables the new features we'll see at the upcoming Autonomy Day. Instead of trusting a downloaded database, the vehicle needs to trust what it sees right now. If there are lines on the road (or not), the vehicle should be able to figure it out, just like a human does.
It seems Rivian is finally ready to take the training wheels off. By moving to a perception-based system (similar to what Tesla is doing), we solve the construction problem, and we solve the "dead zone" problem.
Does this mean maps go away? No. HD maps will still be there in the background as a "double check". It’s like having a cheat sheet for a test—you should know the answers yourself, but it’s nice to have the backup.
One More Thing: The AI in the Dashboard
Aside from the driving tech, there’s a massive rumor floating around about Google Gemini coming to Rivian.
We aren't just talking about a better voice assistant that can tell you a joke. We’re talking about deep vehicle integration. Imagine saying, "I’m hungry, but I don’t want to stop for more than 20 minutes, and I need to charge."
Gemini could parse that request, check your battery temp, check the charger speeds nearby, and find a restaurant, all in one go. If they pull this off, it changes the infotainment game entirely.
And yes... rumor has it gemini will read your text messages to you (Cue the communal sigh of reliefe to finally have text integration)
The Bottom Line
We are in a transition period. The old way (memorizing every inch of asphalt) is hitting its limits. The new way (teaching cars to see and think) is just arriving.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for my R1S to drive based on what’s actually in front of it—not what was there when the map truck drove by six months ago.
PS - If you're not yet a Rivian owner, and you found this info helpful you can use this referral code to get Rivian Rewards when you buy! https://rivian.com/configurations/list?reprCode=MIKE4580282
If you drive a Rivian, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You get on the highway, you wait for that little icon to appear, you double-pull the stalk, and you let the R1 do the work. It’s great. Until it isn’t. Until the road isn't "mapped," and you’re back to driving like a peasant from 2015.
With Rivian’s Autonomy Day coming up, I think a lot of us are asking: Are we finally done with pre-mapped highways? I think the answer is yes. But also... no. It’s complicated.
Let me explain, starting with a weird thing that happened to me on my commute a few days ago.
Shortly after leaving home, I noticed my LTE connection decided to take a nap. Apple Music wouldn't load and no hotspot, despite having full bars. The odd part is that this error seemed to have also affected the Highway Assist mapping. Enhanced Highway Assist engaged normally as I merged onto the freeway. But after about a mile or two, it told me there was no road information and the system disengaged in an area where I normally have no issues. That's when I noticed something different about the driver's display. Usually, it shows the cars around me and the lane markings next to me. But when the map data cut out, the lanes outside of my specific lane just... vanished. The cars in those lanes were still present, but the markings for those lanes were just gone!
So... is the visualization of the other lanes on the road also somehow tied to the pre-mapping? Well, based on these events it seems so, at least to some degree!
SD vs. HD: It’s Not Just About Resolution
To understand why this matters, we have to nerd out for a second on the difference between SD Maps and HD Maps.
SD Mapping: This is Google Maps or Apple Maps. It knows that "I-15 goes North." It knows where the turn is. It’s a digital version of the paper atlas your dad used to keep in the glovebox.
HD Mapping: This layer knows exactly how wide the lane is (down to the inch), the curvature of the turn, and the exact height of the curb.
Right now, Rivian is addicted to HD maps. The vehicle uses them as "invisible rails." It knows where to drive because a survey team (most likely a 3rd party) drove there first and told the computer, "Okay, the lane is right here."
That’s why the system is so smooth when it works. But it’s also why it’s so brittle.
The "Construction Zone" Problem
The problem with relying on a memory of the road is that roads change. We’ve all seen those construction zones where the lanes shift aggressively to the left.
If the R1 is driving based on a map from three months ago, it "thinks" the lane goes straight. But the cameras see orange cones telling it to swerve. When the Map and the Eyes disagree, the vehicle gets confused and hands control back to you.
This is the "Geo-Lock." If Rivian hasn’t scanned the road, you can’t use the feature. It doesn't matter if the lane markings are perfect and visibility is 100 miles; if the map isn't there, the feature is dead. This is the approach the old Mobile Eye system used. And up until now, the Rivian Platform too, but I suspect this is changing.
The Future: Eyes Over Memory
We are moving from Map-First to Perception-First.
This is, I think, going to be one of the big underlying shifts that enables the new features we'll see at the upcoming Autonomy Day. Instead of trusting a downloaded database, the vehicle needs to trust what it sees right now. If there are lines on the road (or not), the vehicle should be able to figure it out, just like a human does.
It seems Rivian is finally ready to take the training wheels off. By moving to a perception-based system (similar to what Tesla is doing), we solve the construction problem, and we solve the "dead zone" problem.
Does this mean maps go away? No. HD maps will still be there in the background as a "double check". It’s like having a cheat sheet for a test—you should know the answers yourself, but it’s nice to have the backup.
One More Thing: The AI in the Dashboard
Aside from the driving tech, there’s a massive rumor floating around about Google Gemini coming to Rivian.
We aren't just talking about a better voice assistant that can tell you a joke. We’re talking about deep vehicle integration. Imagine saying, "I’m hungry, but I don’t want to stop for more than 20 minutes, and I need to charge."
Gemini could parse that request, check your battery temp, check the charger speeds nearby, and find a restaurant, all in one go. If they pull this off, it changes the infotainment game entirely.
And yes... rumor has it gemini will read your text messages to you (Cue the communal sigh of reliefe to finally have text integration)
The Bottom Line
We are in a transition period. The old way (memorizing every inch of asphalt) is hitting its limits. The new way (teaching cars to see and think) is just arriving.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for my R1S to drive based on what’s actually in front of it—not what was there when the map truck drove by six months ago.
PS - If you're not yet a Rivian owner, and you found this info helpful you can use this referral code to get Rivian Rewards when you buy! https://rivian.com/configurations/list?reprCode=MIKE4580282
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