All about Launch Edition

[myles-douglass]

With the official Safety Pilot platform being announced, I am hopeful that they can offer it. I am an accelerator and hope they offer this as well as the off-road package to those who opted for it.

I know that, unfortunately, the LE’s most likely won’t be configurable with off-road package or openpilot…hence “launch edition” but it is on the second configuration page and is still classified as a launch edition (with a disclaimer that it MAY delay delivery.)

It sounds like it will be offered on LE but perhaps only towards the end of LE production or maybe as plug & play shipped out later (in the case of openpilot.)

Thoughts?

[john-malcom]

It looks like the only thing we know is that comma.ai’s openpilot will be the ADAS for Aptera and available on the LE. Good news! But, we don’t know how it will be configured for use. Thus the speculation in this thread. Perhaps because no final configuration has been determined.

[OZ.]

Well, to “openpilot will be the ADAS for Aptera and available on the LE” I would add the caveat, “At some point.”

• This reply was modified 6 months ago by  OZ (It's OZ, Just OZ).

[david-marlow]

It has been mentioned that it will be available as an easy to add on option, taking less than an hour to do. most likley adding a forward facing camera on to the back of the rear view mirror, connecting a cable and upgrading softwear.

[Mike-Mars]

I think physically replacing the rear-view-monitor unit is the most likely method. The comma 3 circuit board would most likely be inside the unit, with the three cameras integrated into the housing.

Alternatively, it’s possible that they might decide to install some of this by default (so maybe include the cameras into the basic monitor housing, and then it would just be a case of plugging in the circuit board).

I’m basing this on a) Chris A’s comments on Republic, and b) the design of the comma 3 unit that you can find on the comma.ai website.

• This reply was modified 6 months ago by  Michael Marsden.
• This reply was modified 6 months ago by  Michael Marsden.

[christopher-barrett]

The open pilot most likely will be an add-on to the Launch Edition, with the right to repair, it’s a simple enough upgrade for those who understand how to connect it up. Question then becomes, is this upgrade, a hurtful thing as a collector’s item, or does it not matter as it can be uninstalled also? I think on the interstates, this ADAS makes great deal of sense, and I wish to add it to my Launch Edition, when I pick it up.

[curtis-cibinel]

Assuming it is a simple replacement unit for the “not a rear view mirror” then even better. The original part can be put in a box and stored in mint condition. It will be the most pristine part of the vehicle since it wouldn’t be used day to day. If it is replacing the “not a rear view mirror” and not leveraging the main display it will need to be a larger screen since it will need to provide the navigation and rearview display at the same time.

[ROMAD]

Curtis, I would think that having the open pilot info (like that shown in the “Taco Bell trip”) displayed in either the rear view monitor, or the large monitor would keep the safety back-up system (a.k.a. “human”) looking at them rather than the area around the vehicle. Perhaps the left/right side display in front of the yoke would be a more logical location.

[curtis-cibinel]

I doubt they would fully replace either of the hud (left/right) rearviews. Ideally if it was a single wide minor and wired through the infotainment they could split it into 3 parts rather than 2 but I’m pretty sure it is two distinct displays, I’m all for aggressive use of the hud for information because it is super elegant and has the least eye movement. I’m not sure even Aptera knows how all the details will work yet.

[Gozer]

The CEO has described it as a “bucket” or module that replaces the rear view monitor and a software upgrade.

[craig-merrow]

If I understand you correctly, it would pretty much a “plug-and-play” item?

[Biker]

Likely some firmware update will be needed in addition to the hardware, but, yes, close to plug-and-play.

[Biker]

Not sure if this shows anything more than previous renderings, but Aptera posted this on the socials:

[Riley]

Looks like the glowgo will be the location of the rfid or knock sensor, wires go directly from glowgo area to electrically actuated door latch.

[coby-costa]

Maybe it is just my computer color settings, but I don’t think the luna color looks good. I find this odd because I find silver to look incredible on other cars. Maybe it is because of the fact that it’s actually two tone, silver and black, and the black doesn’t look good with silver. I am surprised that luna is the most popular color (I assume that is why the launch edition chose this). The white looks incredible with the black. What are yall’s thoughts?

Besides cosmetics, white might help it stay cooler, but silver would help it look cleaner. Thoughts?

[Mike-Mars]

I had originally wanted the black one, but the Delta two tone silver looked amazing to me, so I changed my order.

[curtis-cibinel]

Yep – huge upgrade with the darker bottom. Given the now relatively small strip of wrap I wonder how hard it would be to DIY it. I’m curious how hard the wheel pants would be.

[ROMAD]

The problem may be the wrap material used. Have you watched YT videos of the Gamma? However, since Aptera has yet to decide on what type of wrap to use, the final shade of silver won’t be known until there is an actual real production vehicle.