Openpilot vs. Autopilot -- Pitting my R1T with Openpilot vs. my wife's Model Y with Enhanced Autopilot

[gerrylum]

Which ADAS drives better—Tesla or Comma? In this real-world comparison, my wife and I each take the wheel—but in each other’s cars. She drives my 2022 Rivian R1T equipped with a Comma3X running Sunnypilot (a fork of Openpilot), and I drive her 2023 Tesla Model Y using Tesla’s Enhanced Autopilot (EAP). We drive the same route—rural roads, highway, and traffic—and rate both systems across six categories: performance, ease of use, comfort, driver monitoring, interface, and cost.

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[ksujeff99]

Key Conclusions

• In many everyday driving situations, Comma’s Openpilot and Tesla’s Autopilot perform similarly well in terms of smoothness and consistency.
• Tesla’s system often handles edge cases (lane exits, merges) more confidently, but sometimes overreacts or behaves unnecessarily aggressively.
• Openpilot can offer a more relaxed ride with fewer jerky corrections, though it’s less polished in complex scenarios.
• Neither system is perfect; driver attentiveness remains critical.
• The choice between them comes down to preferences: do you value polished “edge-case” behavior or prefer a steadier, more predictable ride?

Summary
In the video, the hosts (the creator and his wife) swap cars and autopilot systems to compare how Tesla Autopilot and Comma’s Openpilot behave under real-world conditions. One drives with Tesla’s built-in system, the other with a vehicle retrofitted with Openpilot, and they analyze their impressions side by side. The video is structured around a range of driving contexts: highway driving, merging, exits, and handling curves. Through this setup, they test how each system handles not just routine stretches of road, but more challenging or ambiguous moments.

What emerges is a nuanced view. In “boring highway” stretches, both systems are largely competent and give a comfortable ride with minimal intervention. But when roads get trickier—exits, merges, lane splits, or ambiguous signage—Tesla often shows more confidence (or aggression) in taking action, though occasionally it misreads intent or overcorrects. Openpilot is more restrained: it errs on the side of caution, which sometimes means hesitating or making less slick maneuvers. The tradeoff is between boldness and subtlety.

The video doesn’t declare a clear winner. Instead, it leans toward “it depends on what you want.” If you prefer a more assertive system that takes more initiative (and occasionally missteps), Tesla has the edge. If you want something that feels steadier, more predictable, and less prone to panic moves, Openpilot is compelling. But at the end of the day, both systems need human supervision — you’re still in the loop.

 

[gerrylum]

The video doesn’t declare a clear winner. Instead, it leans toward “it depends on what you want.”

Good if somewhat inaccurate summary. I think we both agreed there was a pretty clear winner even though this is just the opinion of two randos.

 

[SwampNut]

AI video summaries are often like asking a person to watch a foreign film then explain it another language they don’t speak. I used my AI powered browser to check the validity of this summary, and it said not great. I then told it to ask Grok, which argued with Perplexity which was arguing with the shitty ChatGPT summary above.

If I just created a singularity, sorry.

I’ll watch the video later if we survive. I can summarize it in French. Most people don’t know that I mostly think in French although I speak English. One day I hope to learn French so I’ll know WTF I’m thinking.

 

[jwanderson88]

What is OpenPilot? Does it actually control your Rivian? How is that done?

 

[Jonger1150]

Isn't this thing messing with the motors and causing faults?

 

[gerrylum]

What is OpenPilot? Does it actually control your Rivian? How is that done?

The Comma3X is a device sold by Comma.ai that runs Openpilot, an open source hands-free ADAS platform. You hook it up to the Rivian and it takes over ADAS duties.

Isn't this thing messing with the motors and causing faults?

For a VERY few people. Like less than 2% of users. We already have good results testing a fix for the few users who are affected.

 

[SwampNut]

What is OpenPilot? Does it actually control your Rivian? How is that done?

There are a number of videos and posts here with that info, and also, Gerry's channel has a ton of great ones showing it. Go have a look there. It blows away Rivian Gen1's crappy ADAS.

 

[ElGuano]

Thanks for the video, first time I say an openpilot v. autopilot video!

If I can offer a mild video production critique: particularly during the Tesla in-cabin segment, critical detail is completely blocked from view--by your behind-the-driver camera placement, the rear-view mirror, the Garfield hangtag, and the large PIP window whose entire top half shows nothing but the car's headliner/roof.

In the below screencap, you're talking about how the car is taking a sharp curve, but the curve is completely blocked by these elements, as is most of the center console screen:

It can be very frustrating to watch, and in this case might as well just be audio on black screen.

I'd recommend for future videos that you drop the height of the behind-the-driver camera so the rearview mirror doesn't block the horizon, remove the hangtag, and make the PIP window smaller and closer to the bottom corner. Make sure that viewers can see both the road ahead as well as the center display that is showing autopilot status.

 

[gerrylum]

I'd recommend for future videos that you drop the height of the behind-the-driver camera so the rearview mirror doesn't block the horizon, remove the hangtag, and make the PIP window smaller and closer to the bottom corner. Make sure that viewers can see both the road ahead as well as the center display that is showing autopilot status.

Good feedback! Yes, if I were to do this again I might also enlarge the center display in it's own window, kind of like what I did for Openpilot, though the Openpilot footage has the benefit of also including the camera feed. Next time I put the camera in the Tesla, I also need to lower it - I feel like the rearview mirror is right in the way of the view.

 

[SwampNut]

I've made a lot of videos for a particular medical topic. I'm no pro. I do the same sort of mistake often, and people point it out. It's hard to put your mind into the production when you're focused on the topic itself. I assume Gerry is also more skilled at the topic itself, than the video production (which I'm terrible at).

 

[gerrylum]

Maybe someday I can hire a production team to help!

 

[ElGuano]

Agreed, auto enthusiasts/experts aren't likely going to be Ridley Scott as well, nor do they have to be.

I just thought the details I noticed got in the way of good content/message, and they seem like easy fixes that will help viewers understand and enjoy the content better.

Sorry for the tangent, Gerry! I'm out.

 

[gerrylum]

Hey, I will always happily accept constructive criticism offered in good faith!

 

[SwampNut]

Maybe someday I can hire a production team to help!

This morning I realized I could have lined up an offshore video editor to help me with the @twraps adventure and wrap results. I really want to post that very soon, knowing I will be cursing at a video editor (LumaFusion) for a few hours has slowed me down, mentally.

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