In a recent development, Rivian, the innovative electric vehicle manufacturer, has decided to disable the driver-facing camera in its R1T and R1S models. The camera, which was initially intended for driver-monitoring purposes when utilizing the Driver+ driver-assist technologies, has proven incapable of accurately detecting whether the driver is paying attention.
Rather than formally announcing the removal of the camera from production, Rivian discreetly mentioned its deactivation in the release notes accompanying the latest 2023.22.00 software update. The company reassured users that disabling the camera would have no impact on the safety or functionality of the R1T and R1S vehicles.
To shed light on the reasoning behind this decision, Rivian has introduced a support page on its website. The page reveals that starting from summer onwards, the R1 vehicles will no longer be equipped with a driver-facing camera. Rivian explained that the current camera’s position and viewing angle failed to meet their performance requirements. Nevertheless, the company emphasized that the deactivation of the camera would not compromise the safety or effectiveness of Driver+, which would rely on alternative cameras, sensors, and embedded software throughout the R1T and R1S models.
However, some Rivian owners on Reddit raised doubts about the explanation provided, suggesting that the camera only captured the lower half of the driver’s seat and did not adequately address the crucial angle of monitoring the driver’s face.
While Rivian acknowledged the limitations of the existing camera, it stated on its website that it is actively exploring options for higher performance camera hardware and new cabin placements in future models. However, no specific timeline has been provided regarding the introduction of these improved cameras or their integration into production vehicles.
