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Rivian’s Gen 2 R1 vehicles now feature Enhanced Highway Assist, a hands-off driving capability, as part of the Rivian Autonomy Platform. This in-house developed system uses advanced cameras, radars, and machine learning to enable safer, more reliable driving on 135,000 miles of highways across the U.S. and Canada. The company plans significant expansions, including off-highway roads, within the next year, while prioritizing trust and safety over speed to market.
Key Highlights:
- Hands-off driving: Enhanced Highway Assist lets drivers remove hands from the wheel, provided they stay attentive, covering 135,000 highway miles at launch.
- Advanced tech: Features 11 cameras, 5 radars, and a compute module with over 200 trillion operations per second for real-time environmental processing.
- Future-ready: Current hardware supports upcoming features like hands-off/eyes-off driving in controlled settings by 2026, with monthly software updates planned.
Rivian’s Autonomy Platform stands out with its early sensor fusion approach, blending data from cameras and radars into a unified model for superior accuracy in tough conditions like fog or glare. Unlike competitors’ late fusion methods, this system leverages a powerful onboard computer—making Rivian vehicles the most advanced personal tech many owners possess. “We’re excited to continue releasing new updates and dramatically expanding our autonomy features,” said James Philbin, VP of Autonomy and AI.
The platform’s machine learning models, built on cutting-edge transformer architectures, allow vehicles to interpret surroundings and make smarter decisions, such as lane changes or reacting to traffic. These models are adaptable, supporting various sensor setups for future scalability while off-board systems refine performance using anonymized fleet data.
Looking ahead, Rivian aims to extend hands-off capabilities to more highways and surface roads by late 2025, with hands-off/eyes-off features targeted for 2026. The focus remains on safety and customer trust, ensuring stress-free driving. With hardware already in place, Rivian’s roadmap promises rapid evolution, redefining autonomy in the electric vehicle space.
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