New Story: Rivian Tech Headroom

[SeaGeo]

Limestone on the page? Video under "Performance and Drive Modes" section.

I *think* it's el cap in a dusty environment and some specific lighting condition.

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[Sully151]

I mean, not to be negative, but it’s hard to imagine the hardware being so good 10 years from now when so many are complaining about the cameras today.

 

[fotoflux]

I mean, not to be negative, but it’s hard to imagine the hardware being so good 10 years from now when so many are complaining about the cameras today.

unless the sensors themselves are dollar-store quality, I fully expect the video resolution to be improved via OTA once they optimize the SW algorithms to stream multiple videos. The limiting factor is likely the graphics processing, not the cameras themselves. However, if there was that much headroom, you'd think that the graphics processing wouldn't be an issue either. So point taken. Or maybe due to supply chain issues they are using less-than optimal HW (that's readily available "off the shelf) in the initial production roll-out. Either way, no way this stuff has 10 years of headroom.

 

[the long way downunder]

You've got to wonder about Rivian marketing and communications …

I did like the comments about Unreal, but the way to market VR/AR is to show it … that's arguably the oldest marketing maxim in the business: show me, don't tell me. It's the polite version of "sex sells."

Rivian, like Tesla, knows that its customers are technology lifestyle consumers – they want to know specific details about their 80 inch OLED panel … they can't see the picture quality, they're not going to set it up to even reach its potential, they're buying it for its specs and knowing they've got a great product and by definition a great experience. This demographic of user doesn't need to be told what is already known about technology and cars (in a market long ago educated by Tesla spending millions on marketing and evangelism) they want the specs and the demo … especially something they can share with friends in a post reading "Here's my 835hp Rivian in a Tank Turn!"
(this video from 2019)

 

[Inkedsphynx]

Important to remember 10 years in the automotive industry != 10 years in the tech industry. Rivian is attempting to bridge some of that gap, but tech moves way faster than almost anything else, so it's not really fair to use that as a measuring stick.

Another interesting point - the ongoing chip shortage isn't for modern chips, it's for stuff that's been being produced for more than the last 10 years. The cycles in the auto industry move at (pre-climate-change) glacial paces. Again, I expect Rivian to help change that, but I don't expect them to be able to make the equivalent change of a 10 year cycle to a 2 year cycle by themselves.

I think both the R1T and R1S will be very drivable and still very compelling vehicles in 10 years, but no, they won't be top-of-the-line at that point.

 

[Zoidz]

Any geologists in the house? Looks like that short video ended with the R1T at the edge of a limestone outcrop?

Not a geologist, but I live in a limestone rich area and have tons of it (pun intended) on my farm. Sure looks like limestone to me.

 

[Max]

This annoys me sooo much....

‘I think it is mostly due to the fact that you are outside looking in. The hood is higher than side panel so the driver can’t see the gap. Delivery will fix all of that for you; once you are behind the wheel, you will see nine of that as long as you remember to look the other way when you are walking toward your R1T.

 

[the long way downunder]

‘I think it is mostly due to the fact that you are outside looking in. The hood is higher than side panel so the driver can’t see the gap. Delivery will fix all of that for you; once you are behind the wheel, you will see nine of that as long as you remember to look the other way when you are walking toward your R1T.

No vehicle should be delivered with anything less than pin stripe shut lines – surely that is a pre-production vehicle or an R&D mule on manufacturer plates.
I expect far higher standards from Rivian – after all, this is not a Tesla! : )

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