Comma.ai launches an $88 universal car interface called Panda

TL;DR

"Panda is a universal car interface that allows users to gather and analyze detailed data from their cars and potentially control certain supported functions."

Transcript

we're coming back our slogan is ghost riding for the masses you want to ship self-driving cars to as many people as have androids now what we're announcing today is panda Panda is the best universal car interface ever this supports six different buses on this poor literally you can talk with every car manufactured after 1996 pull all the data off t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🇲🇬 Panda is a universal car interface that enables users to gather data from their cars, including gas pedal activity, rpms, tire pressure, fuel levels, and more.
• 😀 The Cabana app serves as an interface to interpret the collected data, providing users with detailed insights about their vehicles.
• 🦾 The Panda system offers manufacturer-level information surpassing what mechanics and emissions tests can provide.
• 😨 While initially aimed at car enthusiasts, Panda is suitable for anyone interested in their car's performance and functionality.
• 🤳 Panda is a significant shift from the earlier Tacoma One product due to regulatory issues and the goal of developing a self-driving model.
• 👤 The plan is to use the gathered data to train a superhuman self-driving model and eventually enter the production stage with more user-friendly hardware.
• 😨 Future possibilities include bundling Panda with car dealership offerings and making it non-user installable.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Panda and how does it work?

Panda is a universal car interface that allows users to gather and analyze data from their cars. It supports six different car buses and can retrieve information from cars manufactured after 1996. It has USB and Wi-Fi connectivity options to connect with a phone or computer.

Q: What can users do with the Cabana app?

The Cabana app serves as an interface to interpret the data collected by Panda. Users can analyze various car metrics such as gas pedal activity, rpms, tire pressure, fuel levels, and miles per gallon. The app logs and exposes this data to users through an API and user-friendly interface.

Q: How does the Panda system differ from traditional mechanic and emission tests?

The Panda system provides data beyond what mechanics and emissions tests can offer. It offers manufacturer-level insights into car functionality, allowing car enthusiasts and users to access detailed information about their vehicles. This information may go beyond what is commonly available to the general public.

Q: Is Panda only for car enthusiasts and programmers?

While car enthusiasts and programmers may find Panda appealing, it is designed for anyone interested in accessing detailed information about their cars. Even individuals without programming experience can use the app to analyze car metrics like engine temperature and RPM. It caters to anyone who wants to have a deeper understanding of their vehicle.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Panda is a car interface that supports six different buses and enables users to access data from cars manufactured after 1996.

• The data collected includes information about gas pedal activity, rpms, tire pressure, fuel levels, and miles per gallon, among other car-related details.

• The collected data is processed and made available to users through an app called Cabana, providing manufacturer-level insights beyond what mechanics and emissions tests can provide.