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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/commaai/openpilot/llms.txt

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openpilot is a Level 2 driver assistance system. It does not drive the vehicle autonomously and does not reduce the level of attention required from the driver. The driver must remain in control of the vehicle at all times, keep their hands on the wheel, and be ready to take over immediately. The limitations described on this page are based on known factors that degrade system performance, but they do not represent every situation where openpilot may not function as expected.
The conditions listed in each section are not exhaustive. It is the driver’s responsibility to remain in control of the vehicle at all times and not to rely on openpilot to handle situations it may not be capable of managing.

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Feature limitations

openpilot ALC and LDW do not automatically drive the vehicle or reduce the attention required to operate it. The driver must keep control of the steering wheel and be ready to correct any ALC action at all times.openpilot is not capable of checking blind spots during lane changes. Only initiate a lane change after confirming it is safe to do so.The following conditions can prevent ALC and LDW from functioning as intended:
  • Poor visibility due to heavy rain, snow, fog, or other weather conditions that affect the road-facing camera
  • The road-facing camera is obstructed, covered, or damaged by mud, ice, or snow
  • Excessive paint, adhesive products, wraps, stickers, or rubber coating applied to the vehicle that obstructs the camera
  • Incorrect device mounting
  • Sharp curves such as on-ramps, off-ramps, and intersections—openpilot’s steering torque is intentionally limited in these situations
  • Restricted lanes or active construction zones
  • Highly banked roads or strong crosswind
  • Extremely hot or cold temperatures
  • Bright light from oncoming headlights or direct sunlight
  • Hills, narrow roads, or winding roads
openpilot ACC and FCW do not permit careless or inattentive driving. The driver must pay close attention to the vehicle’s surroundings and be ready to take back control of the throttle and brake at all times.The following conditions can prevent ACC and FCW from functioning as intended:
  • Poor visibility due to heavy rain, snow, fog, or other weather that affects the road-facing camera or radar
  • The road-facing camera or radar is obstructed, covered, or damaged by mud, ice, or snow
  • Excessive paint, adhesive products, wraps, stickers, or rubber coating applied to the vehicle that obstructs sensors
  • Incorrect device mounting
  • Approaching a toll booth, bridge, or large metal plate
  • Roads with pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users
  • Traffic signs or traffic lights—openpilot does not detect traffic signals or stop lights
  • The posted speed limit is below the user-selected cruise speed—openpilot does not detect or enforce speed limits
  • Stationary vehicles in the same lane
  • Situations requiring abrupt braking—openpilot’s deceleration and acceleration are intentionally bounded
  • Vehicles performing close cut-ins from adjacent lanes
  • Hills, narrow roads, or winding roads
  • Extremely hot or cold temperatures
  • Bright light from oncoming headlights or direct sunlight
  • Interference from other equipment that generates radar waves
openpilot driver monitoring (DM) is not an exact measure of driver alertness. It should not be used to assess whether a driver is sufficiently attentive.The following conditions can prevent driver monitoring from functioning as intended:
  • Low light conditions, including driving at night or through dark tunnels
  • Bright light from oncoming headlights or direct sunlight
  • The driver’s face is partially or fully outside the field of view of the driver-facing camera
  • The driver-facing camera is obstructed, covered, or damaged
A driver should not rely on the absence of a DM alert to conclude they are adequately attentive.

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Stock feature integration

When openpilot is installed, it replaces some stock ADAS features and leaves others unchanged:
  • Replaced on all supported cars: stock Lane Keep Assist (LKA), stock ALC, stock LDW
  • Replaced on supported cars with openpilot longitudinal control: stock ACC
  • Supplemented (not replaced): openpilot FCW runs alongside the stock FCW system
All other stock safety features—Automatic Emergency Braking, blind spot warning, side collision warning, auto high-beam—are preserved and remain active.

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