DD Pro and 2.6

[RMSko]

I was upgraded to 2.6.1 and I now seem to get many more messages about both putting my hands on the wheel and watching the rode. The annoying factor is this always happens when I am holding the wheel and watching the rode. Admittedly I’m only holding the wheel with one hand but unless I grip it extremely tight, I periodically get the message. Anyone have a similar issue or any thoughts?

 

[Alex]

I was upgraded to 2.6.1 and I now seem to get many more messages about both putting my hands on the wheel and watching the rode. The annoying factor is this always happens when I am holding the wheel and watching the rode. Admittedly I’m only holding the wheel with one hand but unless I grip it extremely tight, I periodically get the message. Anyone have a similar issue or any thoughts?

I’m sure you know this (or maybe not), but just holding or gripping tight the steering wheel is not what you need to do. You need to apply torque to the wheel. It’s best if you move or jiggle it a little. There are no sensors to detect hands on the wheel, other than you moving the wheel a little.

Some cars, BMW for example, have capacitive sensors, where all you need to do it just touch the steering wheel - no need to move it. Lucid, as well as Tesla use movement of the steering wheel.

 

[RMSko]

I’m sure you know this (or maybe not), but just holding or gripping tight the steering wheel is not what you need to do. You need to apply torque to the wheel. It’s best if you move or jiggle it a little. There are no sensors to detect hands on the wheel, other than you moving the wheel a little.

Some cars, BMW for example, have capacitive sensors, where all you need to do it just touch the steering wheel - no need to move it. Lucid, as well as Tesla use movement of the steering wheel.

I'm a new owner (have only had my car for two weeks) and so I wasn't aware of this, so thanks! Does this mean even when I have auto pilot engaged and the DD is steering the car I need to periodically still nudge the wheel? That does seem a bit crazy. It hasn't been constant though. Sometimes it only nudges me after a 15 mins or so and then sometimes it's nudging me every couple of minutes. I assume there's no workaround? It's very annoying and somewhat defeats the purpose.

 

[joec]

I'm a new owner (have only had my car for two weeks) and so I wasn't aware of this, so thanks! Does this mean even when I have auto pilot engaged and the DD is steering the car I need to periodically still nudge the wheel? That does seem a bit crazy. It hasn't been constant though. Sometimes it only nudges me after a 15 mins or so and then sometimes it's nudging me every couple of minutes. I assume there's no workaround? It's very annoying and somewhat defeats the purpose.

It's a subtle bit of pressure that you need. Not squeezing the wheel, but turning motion. As if you are trying to turn left or right, but not pressing hard enough to break free, if that makes sense.

I find resting two fingers of my left hand on the flat bottom left of the wheel does the trick in most cases.

 

[coma24]

I've found that no matter where I 'rest' my hand, I tend to hold it still enough (ie, not applying any torque) that I get the alert. As a result, I keep my hand on the wheel, not because it helps, but so that it's already there when I give it the obligatory subtle tweak to let it know that I'm there. Hands free can't come soon enough...not because I plan to read a book, but because I would love to just have my hands on my lap, ready to take the wheel.

They already have sensors to ensure you're looking forwards, I wish that was enough to remove the 'your hands need to be on the wheel' message, but I'm guessing it's a L3 autonomy thing.

Drove 380 miles yesterday (NJ to MA and back for college visit) and wished for it many times during long stretches on the freeway.

Side note, the car handled absolutely beautifully on the Sawmill Expressway, and I was treated to 3-4 mile stretch where there somehow wasn't a single other car, allowing me to use both lanes through the corners, meaning I could drive a little quicker without a lot of lateral G for the sleeping passenger (my daughter). The car is such a pleasure on casually windy roads like the Sawmill.

Of course, on the way home there were 3 instances of 2 cars who would've given the @#$@#$ Blue Angels a run for their money when it comes to maintaining tight formation. I nearly asked my daughter to take video of two cars ahead of me...nobody in front of them, just me behind them.....they are absolutely side by side for about a mile before I had enough and politely suggested with my lights that they, perhaps between themselves, could muster the energy to some their few working neurons to take a pause from the NONE SHALL PASS formation.

 

[Buffalo Bob]

Of course, on the way home there were 3 instances of 2 cars who would've given the @#$@#$ Blue Angels a run for their money when it comes to maintaining tight formation. I nearly asked my daughter to take video of two cars ahead of me...nobody in front of them, just me behind them.....they are absolutely side by side for about a mile before I had enough and politely suggested with my lights that they, perhaps between themselves, could muster the energy to some their few working neurons to take a pause from the NONE SHALL PASS formation.

Ugh! I call them 'Lane Dwellers'. I'm a relative slowpoke on the highways, and they are the bane of even my existence! I can understand hanging out there on those rare occasions when the right lane is totally beat up compared to the left, but only if one remains aware of their surrounding traffic. I fantasize about being able to dial up my Lidar array by a factor of X, where X is a large positive interger, and having the microwave effect heat up their dental fillings a bit.

 

[thommev]

I've found that no matter where I 'rest' my hand, I tend to hold it still enough (ie, not applying any torque) that I get the alert. As a result, I keep my hand on the wheel, not because it helps, but so that it's already there when I give it the obligatory subtle tweak to let it know that I'm there. Hands free can't come soon enough...not because I plan to read a book, but because I would love to just have my hands on my lap, ready to take the wheel.

They already have sensors to ensure you're looking forwards, I wish that was enough to remove the 'your hands need to be on the wheel' message, but I'm guessing it's a L3 autonomy thing.

Drove 380 miles yesterday (NJ to MA and back for college visit) and wished for it many times during long stretches on the freeway.

Side note, the car handled absolutely beautifully on the Sawmill Expressway, and I was treated to 3-4 mile stretch where there somehow wasn't a single other car, allowing me to use both lanes through the corners, meaning I could drive a little quicker without a lot of lateral G for the sleeping passenger (my daughter). The car is such a pleasure on casually windy roads like the Sawmill.

Of course, on the way home there were 3 instances of 2 cars who would've given the @#$@#$ Blue Angels a run for their money when it comes to maintaining tight formation. I nearly asked my daughter to take video of two cars ahead of me...nobody in front of them, just me behind them.....they are absolutely side by side for about a mile before I had enough and politely suggested with my lights that they, perhaps between themselves, could muster the energy to some their few working neurons to take a pause from the NONE SHALL PASS formation.

It is not a L3 autonomy thing. Our BMW X7 has this, and they still market it as L2 (maybe L2+). Can go handsfree up to 85 mph on freeways. Works beautifully too.

I have the same problem with my Lucid. The hands detection on steering wheel is not up to snuff. I am also not confident about how Lucid detects lane markers. It alerts sometimes when I know I didn't hit the marker. I love driving the car myself, but DD Pro looks like wasted money so far. Hope they improve it.