[zrt1019]

I'm confused:

"THIS IS ALPHA QUALITY SOFTWARE FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A PRODUCT. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLYING WITH LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. NO WARRANTY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED."

Where can this be used? In a private parking lot?

[rogerrogerr]

The driver takes liability, of course, and this can be used wherever the driver deems it safe and useful.

[diggan]

> this can be used wherever the driver deems it safe and useful

With the disclaimer that this depends on the location of course. For example, I think in Spain (and probably EU wide?) modifications that affect steering and throttle control would need to undergo local homologation before you're legally allowed to drive with that on public roads at all.

Which, to be honest, makes a lot of sense. I don't think anyone would be happy if cars start using software MVPs automatically controlling throttle and steering while in real traffic.

[edude03]

I mean let’s be frank here. The sort of people who are enthusiastic about this also aren’t going to be stopped by the law especially with the low risk of getting caught.

[diggan]

If I were to personally install this and use it anyways, my biggest worry would be the additional punishment if I cause an accident. Not sure exactly what the punishment is for driving a vehicle you know isn't road worthy, but I bet it aint pretty.

[targetx]

While the chances of getting caught are low, I wouldn't want to risk this for insurance. If you are involved in a crash for any reason I don't think they are going to cover it if you modified this stuff on purpose.

[xipix]

Two thoughts.

Suppose I deem it safe and useful for my 6yo to drive for a while, using his Xbox controller from the passenger seat.

It is illegal in many countries for a device (or anything else) to obscure any part of the driver's forward view (area swept by wipers). So even without actually controlling the car, we have an unlawful vehicle.

[moffkalast]

Aka, this will drive your car into a ditch and it will be your fault.

[rogerrogerr]

It really bothers me when people make statements like this. I propose a bet:

If you’re so confident this will drive my car into a ditch, then front the money for me to buy a compatible car & this kit. If it drives my car into a ditch, I’ll pay you back double that money.

That’s an easy bet for you, right?

[moffkalast]

If a piece of software that has the capacity to kill people is provided without any kind of assurances or warranty with the sole responsibility placed solely on the user, then that already tells me all I need to know, no bet needed to settle it.

Would you buy an angle grinder that's specifically been designed to not have a guard so it can be more useful, made by random contributors on the internet without any official certification? I'll stick with the ones that needed to pass the CE mark and you can sue the company responsible if it chops your arm off thank you very much. They at least have a required level of anxiety needed to patch anything serious knowing the level of responsibility they carry and what's coming if they mess up.

[SkyPuncher]

They’re just trying to scare away people who thing they can chuck this on their car and suddenly have a self-driving robot that they don’t have to pay attention to.

[torlok]

You pay a thousand bones for a device you have to babysit. What's confusing about that?