Comma.AI cable routing advice

[josh0]

I just got the Comma installed in my Gen1 R1T. It’s currently installing software, so my install appears to be functional. However I haven’t figured out how to open up the little box behind the mirror to route the cable through at the end, so it’s a little ugly right now. I didn’t want to risk breaking anything with too much force, so does anyone have any advice for routing that last bit?

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[gerrylum]

I just got the Comma installed in my Gen1 R1T. It’s currently installing software, so my install appears to be functional. However I haven’t figured out how to open up the little box behind the mirror to route the cable through at the end, so it’s a little ugly right now. I didn’t want to risk breaking anything with too much force, so does anyone have any advice for routing that last bit?

This part of my install video might help. Removing the mirror housing isn't too bad with the right tools.

 

[josh0]

This part of my install video might help. Removing the mirror housing isn't too bad with the right tools.

That got the job done, thanks! Really helpful video!

 

[gerrylum]

Looks great! Glad the video helped!

 

[RedCanyon]

I would appreciate a review or more detail about your actual experience once you have had this running for a while. I am interested to learn more from an actual user before I make the purchase.

 

[gerrylum]

I would appreciate a review or more detail about your actual experience once you have had this running for a while. I am interested to learn more from an actual user before I make the purchase.

There are tons of actual users here on the forum - what would you like to know?

 

[LivingInKaos]

I would appreciate a review or more detail about your actual experience once you have had this running for a while. I am interested to learn more from an actual user before I make the purchase.

There are tons of actual users here on the forum - what would you like to know?

Exactly.

I have over 13k Comma driven miles. I mix of rural roads, highway and city. Hands down better than driver+ in most situations not to mention driver+ is only on Rivian mapped roads where comma is on any surface that it can find to navigate thru (gravel roads, trails, parking lots, etc). The comma also has some features that D+ does not when utilizing the Sunnypilot build over the stock Openpilot- especially if you add the longitudinal control adapter as well- like lane change with signal (Rivian AP+ JUST added this ability) and a mode called MADS where the comma steers, but you still control the accelerator, and more.

Not going to lie, there are a couple of limitations to be aware of.

1. Steering angle - the system we are currently using will only allow the steering wheel to turn 90 degrees. Really the main thing this does is keep you from turning in most standard intersections (big wide TX style intersections will fly ).

2. Steering Torque - the torque we can apply is limited by the LKAS (Lane Keep Assist System). So tight turns at higher speeds become an issue. @gerrylum found early on that tires make a huge difference here - OEM Pirelli's being one of the worst. So, a good portion of this can be addressed at your next tire change. I am running oem tires and yes, it fails some of my rural turns, but I've only had one or two hwy turns that it couldn't take, but we were traveling at a higher than speed limit rate (traffic speed) . Most indicate that with tires like the Michelin Defenders, they rarely have turns it doesn't take at normal speeds.

Now, we have to consider that Rivian is still relatively new to the Comma Space (Gerry, see what I did there ). There is a potential to unlock the angle steering commands that the driver+ system use and that should resolve #2 and potentially #1. There's really only one developer that has been working on the Rivian and he's working with several vehicles so his time is limited (these guys have day jobs too). The more folks that get involved, the better things become. We've already come a long way since Feb/Mar !

 

[RedCanyon]

Exactly.

I have over 13k Comma driven miles. I mix of rural roads, highway and city. Hands down better than driver+ in most situations not to mention driver+ is only on Rivian mapped roads where comma is on any surface that it can find to navigate thru (gravel roads, trails, parking lots, etc). The comma also has some features that D+ does not when utilizing the Sunnypilot build over the stock Openpilot- especially if you add the longitudinal control adapter as well- like lane change with signal (Rivian AP+ JUST added this ability) and a mode called MADS where the comma steers, but you still control the accelerator, and more.

Not going to lie, there are a couple of limitations to be aware of.

1. Steering angle - the system we are currently using will only allow the steering wheel to turn 90 degrees. Really the main thing this does is keep you from turning in most standard intersections (big wide TX style intersections will fly ).

2. Steering Torque - the torque we can apply is limited by the LKAS (Lane Keep Assist System). So tight turns at higher speeds become an issue. @gerrylum found early on that tires make a huge difference here - OEM Pirelli's being one of the worst. So, a good portion of this can be addressed at your next tire change. I am running oem tires and yes, it fails some of my rural turns, but I've only had one or two hwy turns that it couldn't take, but we were traveling at a higher than speed limit rate (traffic speed) . Most indicate that with tires like the Michelin Defenders, they rarely have turns it doesn't take at normal speeds.

Now, we have to consider that Rivian is still relatively new to the Comma Space (Gerry, see what I did there ). There is a potential to unlock the angle steering commands that the driver+ system use and that should resolve #2 and potentially #1. There's really only one developer that has been working on the Rivian and he's working with several vehicles so his time is limited (these guys have day jobs too). The more folks that get involved, the better things become. We've already come a long way since Feb/Mar !

Very helpful... thanks for taking the time to post this.

 

[gerrylum]

It should also be noted the Comma has a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy if you want to try it out. Drive with it for a few weeks, if you don't like it send it back.

 

[sgorman1033]

I would appreciate a review or more detail about your actual experience once you have had this running for a while. I am interested to learn more from an actual user before I make the purchase.

OMG!! It’s been the best upgrade for my R1S. It’s so fun to drive now and the community is so supportive. If you have a Gen 1, I would 100% recommend it to anyone.

 

[LL75]

When I first put this on my wife's car, I thought she would be reluctant to use it. But after a few tries, she told me she used it almost everytime going to work. She loved it because it is always centered lane and not drifting.

 

[gerrylum]

After my wife and I did the Autopilot vs. Openpilot video she told me she wanted to put a Comma in her Tesla but she feels bad because we paid so much for Autopilot when we bought her car.

 

[josh0]

I’ve only put a couple hundred miles in with it so far, but based on my limited experience, I’m inclined to agree with everything that @LivingInKaos said.

I’ve actually been very happy with Highway Assist overall, but we live off a two-lane US highway, a minimum of 20 miles from anything, and about 50 miles from the nearest stretch of protected interstate where Highway Assist works. Being able to use OpenPilot on our small, rural highway is already a huge improvement. I’m hoping it will prove more reliable on longer drives as well; construction lane shifts, and even just the different lane markers used in some places (I’m looking at you, Arkansas, wtf?) causing problems with HA have been annoying.

The next two days I’ll be doing a lot of driving in New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas, before I get onto an interstate, so it should be a good test.

 

[josh0]

I’m now about 350 miles into an ~2000 mile road trip. So far I have not been on a single road where Highway Assist would have been an option. I’ve only disengaged OpenPilot when going through towns with turns/stops or a few twisty mountain roads where I just didn’t want to have to trust it.

It has been absolutely excellent, so far. This is a game changer, I love it.

 

[josh0]

After about 2000 miles with it, still love it! The turning limitations are a bit annoying in some places, specifically anywhere mountainous: this drive took me through the Rockies and Appalachians, and in both there were some turns—even on the interstate—that were too tight without manual assistance, but everywhere in between was great. The lane changing is a nice feature, though I think the biggest benefit it offers over Highway Assist there is that you don’t have to listen to the chime when it re-engages after you do a manual lane change with HA.

With all the various construction and road hazards along the way, the fact that you can grab the wheel to steer around something, then just seamlessly hand control back over ended up being a bigger improvement than I would have expected.

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