Comma’s Harald Schäfer joins Jason 0s
- The speaker believes that humanoid robots in homes are unlikely in the near future and advises caution regarding technology demonstrations that are not yet market-ready. 33s
- The speaker believes that the "autonomy endgame" is approaching, citing advancements in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, Waymo, Tesla, and Comma AI as evidence. 1m30s
- The speaker welcomes Harold Schaefer, CTO of Comma AI, to the program. 1m41s
Comma's approach to self-driving technology 2m2s
- Comma.ai aims to develop general-purpose robotics, with their current focus being an Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) product called Openpilot. 2m17s
- Openpilot is an open-source software kit that enables cars to have features like lane keeping and adaptive cruise control, similar to Tesla Autopilot and FSD. 2m31s
- While currently a Level 2 system, requiring driver supervision, Comma.ai's long-term goal is to achieve full autonomy through incremental improvements to Openpilot. 3m1s
Cost, installation, and car manufacturers' reactions to Comma 4m6s
- Comma sells a kit for $1,450 that enables partial autonomy in modern Toyotas and Hondas. The kit includes cameras, sensors, a computer, and a wiring harness that connects to the car's internal network, allowing it to control steering, gas, and brakes. 4m23s
- The kit works by intercepting and sending messages on the car's Controller Area Network (CAN bus), similar to the factory-installed Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS). However, Comma argues that their software, "pilot", provides a more usable and enjoyable experience compared to the stock ADAS. 5m2s
- While car manufacturers haven't tried to stop Comma, engineers within those companies, particularly those working on ADAS, tend to be supportive. They acknowledge that their companies' ADAS solutions lag behind competitors like Tesla and open pilot. 5m50s
Tech Domains - Apply for the Jam Session with JCal contest today 6m38s
- The Jam with JCal contest is searching for one more founder to participate. 6m50s
- To be eligible, founders must have under $2 million in funding and use a .TECH domain. 6m58s
- The contest winner will be invited to appear on the This Week in Startups show. 7m6s
Open source and different approaches in autonomous driving 7m24s
- Open source software development helps to maintain high standards for both hardware and software products. 8m27s
- While many companies developing autonomous driving technology keep their systems closed, Comma.ai embraces an open-source approach. 9m25s
- Comma.ai is moving towards using end-to-end machine learning and generative AI models to create realistic driving simulations for training autonomous driving systems. 12m59s
Comparing Waymo, Tesla FSD, and comma AI's strategies 13m8s
- Waymo's approach to autonomous driving involves mapping all the areas in which their vehicles operate and requires a lot of remote supervision, potentially requiring one to two remote supervisors per vehicle. 15m47s
- Waymo's autonomous vehicles cost over one million dollars per year to run, with revenue estimated at $100,000 to $150,000 per year per vehicle. 17m38s
- Waymo's reliance on lidar technology may be a long-term bottleneck, as cameras can provide sufficient information for safe autonomous driving. 20m43s
Lidar vs. camera-based systems in autonomy and the advantages of camera-based systems over human drivers 20m52s
- The cost of upgrading a car for autonomous driving can be significantly less than systems using lidar, with an estimated cost of $1,500. 21m22s
- Camera-based systems have advantages over human drivers as they offer a wider field of view, superior visual fidelity, and consistent vigilance without fatigue or distractions. 21m58s
- The current iteration of the camera-based system uses three cameras: a narrow and wide camera facing forward, providing a 180° and 40° view respectively, and a driver-facing camera to monitor attention. 23m15s
Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 24m5s
- A SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) compliance report is necessary for companies that store customer data in the cloud. 24m16s
- Vanta is a service that helps companies achieve and renew their SOC 2 compliance in 2 to 4 weeks, compared to the average 3 to 5 months it takes without assistance. 24m32s
- In addition to SOC 2 compliance, Vanta can also automate up to 90% of compliance processes for GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulations. 24m43s
Autonomous vehicle rollout timeline and predictions 24m56s
- The majority of driving miles can be completed more safely with a human driver assisted by a level 2, 3, or 4 driving system. 25m23s
- It is predicted that a widely available self-driving taxi solution will not be available in most cities within the next five years. 26m43s
- Open source tends to win in the long term, but there is not a major open source project for self-driving cars. 27m24s
Open-source projects and major car manufacturers' adoption 27m33s
- Companies often choose not to open-source their technology to avoid revealing their limitations and potentially jeopardizing their revenue streams. 28m1s
- Legacy car manufacturers are often hesitant to adopt innovative solutions, even if they are superior, unless they perceive a direct threat to their business model. 28m56s
- While some car manufacturers have expressed interest in Comma's open-source software, Comma remains focused on its core goals of advancing robotics and developing its own product. 31m13s
Micro1 - Visit to open a talent search and get a 2 week free trial per hire. 31m25s
- Scaling a product is challenging for Founders, requiring the right resources at the right time. 31m25s
- Micro1 uses AI to connect companies with teams of developers, simplifying the hiring process. 32m1s
- Micro1 interviews 20,000 engineers monthly, selecting the top 1% and handling legal, compliance, and onboarding, with a promise to find an engineer within 48 hours. 32m11s
Self-driving technology developments in China 32m55s
- In some parts of the world, such as Beijing or other areas in China, self-driving technology might be considered safe enough for deployment even with one intervention every 10 or 20 rides. 32m55s
- There are six or seven different companies in China with self-driving technology comparable to Tesla. 33m38s
- It is currently not possible to create a profitable taxi service using self-driving technology. 33m54s
Tesla's anticipated announcements and AI integration in robotics 34m25s
- It is highly unlikely that Tesla will be able to release a fully autonomous vehicle within the next five years. 35m24s
- The future of robotics is likely to focus on practical applications such as factory work and household tasks, with incremental improvements to existing technologies like robot vacuums and lawnmowers. 37m41s
- Open Pilot, an open-source robotics operating system, is being developed with the goal of creating a general understanding of video, physics, and world models to enable robots to navigate complex environments like homes and offices. 38m52s
Accessing and contributing to open-source self-driving projects 39m48s
- Comma's website and GitHub provide information about their products and open-source projects, including OpenPilot. 39m57s
- Transparency is encouraged, with a suggestion that regulators should require the reporting of all interventions in autonomous driving. 40m43s
- Public logging and sharing of interventions are proposed as starting points for increased transparency in the autonomous driving industry. 40m55s
Data sharing and transparency in autonomous driving 41m1s
- Companies are using data collected from autonomous driving systems to compare against their own systems. 43m1s
- Most users of the autonomous driving system are individuals who purchase the device and install it in their personal vehicles. 43m5s
- The autonomous driving system is easy to install, taking approximately 20 minutes. 43m8s
Global adoption and demographics of self-driving technology 43m14s
- Australia is a sparsely populated country with vast desert areas that pose significant risks to travelers who are unprepared. 43m18s
- Over 50% of miles driven using Comma's self-driving technology are driven with the system engaged. 44m38s
- People find that using driver assistance features like Tesla's FSD results in less fatigue and a smoother ride, particularly on long highway drives. 44m49s
