Tech Made Simple

Hot Topics: How to Fix Bluetooth Pairing Problems | Complete Guide to Facebook Privacy | How to Block Spam Calls | Snapchat Symbol Meaning

We may earn commissions when you buy from links on our site. Why you can trust us.

author photo

Cruise Aftermarket Self-Driving Car Kit Coming in 'Early 2015'

by Fox Van Allen on June 24, 2014

Cruise self-driving car retrofitDepending on who or what company you ask, self-driving cars are anywhere between 3 and 6 years from showing up at your local dealership. But a new startup based out of San Francisco wants to up the timeline. Meet the Cruise RP-1, an aftermarket self-driving car kit for Audi vehicles that will be ready for installation early next year.

The RP-1 retrofit consists of a roof-mounted camera and radar bar, a computer system that hides in your trunk and a series of actuators to control your car’s breaking and acceleration systems, keeping your car in its lane and preventing you from colliding with non-autonomous vehicles and obstacles around you. The company has mapped roads around San Francisco, helping the car understand road contours and curves for safety’s sake. If the sensors lose track of lanes – say, due to construction work changes – audio and visual alerts will warn you to take over manual control of your vehicle.

Cruise RP-1 works with any 2012 or newer A4 or S4 car from Audi. The system only works on highways in California (for now), making it far more limited than Google’s ‘anywhere’ self-driving car tech. It’s not cheap either – your own RP-1 kit will set you back a whopping $10,000. 

For more on the Cruise self-driving car tech, check out Re/code’s coverage, the short video below or the company’s website at getcruise.com.


Topics

Car Tech & Safety, News, Travel & Entertainment, Blog


Discussion loading

Home | About | Meet the Team | Contact Us
Media Kit | Newsletter Sponsorships | Licensing & Permissions
Accessibility Statement
Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookie Policy

Techlicious participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which provide a small commission from some, but not all, of the "click-thru to buy" links contained in our articles. These click-thru links are determined after the article has been written, based on price and product availability — the commissions do not impact our choice of recommended product, nor the price you pay. When you use these links, you help support our ongoing editorial mission to provide you with the best product recommendations.

© Techlicious LLC.