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Comma.ai Claims to Have Built a Self-Driving Unit on Par with Autopilot

We like George Hotz. We like his desire to show the big names in the industry how it's done with very limited resources and using simple solutions whenever possible. He's the outsider, the underdog, and we are genetically programmed to support those in this position.
George Hotz introducing the Comma One 1 photo
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube
After rising to fame as the first man to hack the iPhone and the Sony PlayStation, he inevitably caught the attention of the tech industry. He even snubbed a move to Tesla, deciding instead to form his own company called Comma.ai whose main goal was to build an aftermarket device that could turn most modern cars into self-driving vehicles. And the best part? The conversion kit would cost less than $1,000.

Through the voice of its CEO, Comma.ai announced yesterday that the plan had been partially completed by introducing Comma One. The devices should become available by the end of the year for a price of $999, plus a $24 monthly fee for the use of the company's software (without which the Comma One is nothing but an overpriced dashcam). For now, though, its public will be extremely restricted: only Honda or Acura models with lane keeping assist will be able to take advantage of their features.

During his overly-theatrical presentation at TechCrunch Disrupt, George insisted that Comma One will not make a vehicle Honda fully autonomous, but it will be able to relieve the driver of any worries while cruising a highway. Sounds familiar? Hotz didn't shy away from calling the system "on par" with the Tesla Autopilot. He didn't make it clear if that would apply to the system before or after the latest update, though.

The Comma One is a green device about the size of a large smartphone - but much thicker - that replaces the rearview mirror of your car Honda. It relies on the vehicle's radar system and on its built-in camera for acquiring the data, which is then translated into inputs toward the vehicle's accelerator, brakes, and steering.

Interesting, despite his well-known row with Tesla's Elon Musk, George Hotz was quick to praise the Autopilot system, and he even defended the company in the case of Joshua Brown's fatal accident: “40,000 people die a year from not paying attention. It isn’t like it is a special case ‘a self-driving car killed him’, it was the case of a driver not paying attention,” he said, quoted by TechCrunch. “It did unfortunately happen with Tesla. And I think Tesla’s response was very appropriate.”

Hotz didn't go into details about how Comma One will try to keep the driver alert to their surroundings, but we would expect something similar to Tesla's visual and audible alerts. Even though it should begin shipping this year (in limited quantity), the device is clearly still in its early stages and is a bit rough around the edges. However, what Comma.ai has managed to do in such a short time is highly encouraging. It also makes you wonder why the hell are companies with huge budgets finding it so hard to come up with similar products?

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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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