Steering Wheel Torque Driver Monitoring Defeat Device - Testers Full

[ZSC100]

I've perfected a very simple defeat device for the absolutely stupid steering wheel torque driver monitoring for the Lightning (and all gen14 F150s). I and a few engineering friends have been using it for while and I'd like to get a few others to test it before I consider selling it.

I'll be 100% transparent here, all it is doing is pressing the distance follow button every 10sec.

So, if you want to see how the device will work in your truck, simply set the (non BlueCruise) cruise control with LKA-Aid Only enabled and press the distance follow button every 10sec. You will see that the LKA-Aid stays engaged and you don't get any nagging.

For those that will scream, "this is dangerous", "you shouldn't do this", etc... save it. If you don't want to do it, fine. Most people understand that they are still 100% responsible for their (and passenger's) safety and will defeat STUPID protections with responsibility because this is America. What I mean by STUPID is the method of using steering wheel torque to do driver monitoring,,,,,,, it's stupid. I'll go ahead and say this here b/c I know someone will want to comment, "why is it stupid". It's stupid because you have to literally fight the correct steering force to tell the truck you are present. All because Ford wanted to save a few $ on a sensor. Lightning Pro and most XLT's don't have a driver monitoring camera system because they don't have BlueCruise. So, they just chose to use steering torque to monitor the driver. There are other differences that are at play here too, but if your F150 has the distance follow button shown above that means you have a forward looking RF radar (Ford calls the CCM). All Lightning's have the same image processing hardware and camera for BlueCruise and are thus capable, isn't that crazy

So, without getting too deep in trim/feature weeds, if you have the distance follow button in your Lightning (or any gen14 F150) you can not subscribe to BlueCruise and simply install a defeat device to push the distance follow button every 10sec and essentially have BlueCruise for free with zero nag on any road. Does this mean you should use it hands free on a undivided highway at night while texting on your phone???? Absolutely NOT, but people shouldn't drink and drive either,,, so,, I'll say this again. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for using and knowing the capability of any vehicle's ADASystem.

I've been using this for several months now and it's great. If you want to test it and or vent/agree how stupid using steering wheel torque is for driver monitoring, comment on this thread. I'd like 3 people who have had and used BlueCruise in the past to test this. I have never had BlueCruise so I'd like to get that perspective.

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[fhteagle]

I've perfected a very simple defeat device for the absolutely stupid steering wheel torque driver monitoring for the Lightning (and all gen14 F150s). I and a few engineering friends have been using it for while and I'd like to get a few others to test it before I consider selling it.

I'll be 100% transparent here, all it is doing is pressing the distance follow button every 10sec.

So, if you want to see how the device will work in your truck, simply set the (non BlueCruise) cruise control with LKA-Aid Only enabled and press the distance follow button every 10sec. You will see that the LKA-Aid stays engaged and you don't get any nagging.

For those that will scream, "this is dangerous", "you shouldn't do this", etc... save it. If you don't want to do it, fine. Most people understand that they are still 100% responsible for their (and passenger's) safety and will defeat STUPID protections with responsibility because this is America. What I mean by STUPID is the method of using steering wheel torque to do driver monitoring,,,,,,, it's stupid. I'll go ahead and say this here b/c I know someone will want to comment, "why is it stupid". It's stupid because you have to literally fight the correct steering force to tell the truck you are present. All because Ford wanted to save a few $ on a sensor. Lightning Pro and most XLT's don't have a driver monitoring camera system because they don't have BlueCruise. So, they just chose to use steering torque to monitor the driver. There are other differences that are at play here too, but if your F150 has the distance follow button shown above that means you have a forward looking RF radar (Ford calls the CCM). All Lightning's have the same image processing hardware and camera for BlueCruise and are thus capable, isn't that crazy

So, without getting too deep in trim/feature weeds, if you have the distance follow button in your Lightning (or any gen14 F150) you can not subscribe to BlueCruise and simply install a defeat device to push the distance follow button every 10sec and essentially have BlueCruise for free with zero nag on any road. Does this mean you should use it hands free on a undivided highway at night while texting on your phone???? Absolutely NOT, but people shouldn't drink and drive either,,, so,, I'll say this again. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for using and knowing the capability of any vehicle's ADASystem.

I've been using this for several months now and it's great. If you want to test it and or vent/agree how stupid using steering wheel torque is for driver monitoring, comment on this thread. I'd like 3 people who have had and used BlueCruise in the past to test this. I have never had BlueCruise so I'd like to get that perspective.

I will absolutely beta test that for ya! What's the device, where does it go, how to install, etc? DM if this needs to be NDA level stuff for now.

 

[ZSC100]

Since it's not likely something I (myself) will want to sell for liability reasons and I'm not in it for the $$$ I'm not concerned with any IP. I'm using his board for the prototype:
https://copperhilltech.com/teensy-4-0-can-fd-and-lin-bus-breakout-board/

If you want to buy one, I'll send you the few other parts, program, and details on how to plug it into the truck,, it's super easy, takes about 5min.

If anyone else here is curious why not just stop here and give it to the community like this, it's because this device should cost less than $50,, maybe it's not worth it, maybe we just need to stick with the DIY approach since we all know someone would buy this and decide to take a nap on the highway

 

[digitaldad]

So...this presses the button every 10 seconds, which recalls the current distance/level setting, but doesn't actually change/cycle distance level, am I right?

I use BC a lot on my out-of-town trips but get pretty irritated when I attempt to use LKA cruise control in-town, the nag is super annoying. Put me down as interested tester for you. I will also try the periodic press of the button next time I'm on cruise-control.

 

[ZSC100]

So...this presses the button every 10 seconds, which recalls the current distance/level setting, but doesn't actually change/cycle distance level, am I right?

I use BC a lot on my out-of-town trips but get pretty irritated when I attempt to use LKA cruise control in-town, the nag is super annoying. Put me down as interested tester for you. I will also try the periodic press of the button next time I'm on cruise-control.

Correct, it brings up the dialog showing what the setting is, but doesn't actually adjust it. Some experience this behavior and some don't depending on the year and ICP firmware version, but I've come to actually see this as a plus. It reminds you that you're defeating something and it's not annoying at all when you consider how annoying the normal nag is and even 1 warning braking event is. That shit will give even a perfectly attentive person a heart attack, In fact I'll argue under oath that the rapid braking event is more dangerous than not nagging the driver, they should've just made the audio interruption stronger and/or did a slow deceleration for the ultimate disengagement.

Also, you still get all the other warnings same as always, still get disengagement warnings if it looses lines, and still get watch the road warnings if the camera isn't sure of what it's seeing or the road curves too extreme for the given speed. It's a very well designed system IMO and I'll bet you'll just want to do away with BC and use the LKA-Aid everywhere once you get it. But this is exactly the feedback I want, you're the perfect test candidate.

 

[PJnc284]

That's the main reason I went the Comma route. I go to the coast at least twice a month and try to avoid the interstate so end up on ~120 miles of two lane highway which makes BC useless. Regular LKA did a good job and required very little input to actually keep the truck straight but of course the truck felt the need to constantly nag.

 

[ZSC100]

That's the main reason I went the Comma route. I go to the coast at least twice a month and try to avoid the interstate so end up on ~120 miles of two lane highway which makes BC useless. Regular LKA did a good job and required very little input to actually keep the truck straight but of course the truck felt the need to constantly nag.

Yeah, I have talked to some of the BluePilot developers and I'm considering helping them with the torque interceptor device. Honestly until that is done and Comma can command power steering the right way, this is a much better solution IMO. I still have high hopes that one day Comma we'll get to point-to-point navigation.

 

[BluesClues]

You said not to say but I’ll say - just buy a Comma.

 

[PJnc284]

Yeah, I have talked to some of the BluePilot developers and I'm considering helping them with the torque interceptor device. Honestly until that is done and Comma can command power steering the right way, this is a much better solution IMO. I still have high hopes that one day Comma we'll get to point-to-point navigation.

Much cheaper too. I likely would've went this option as I pretty much just use the comma more as an assist. It's come a long way but I don't see it getting anywhere close to FSD in its current iterations. Then again I didn't trust BC either especially if there were cars around me.

 

[zakress]

I’d love to beta test this device for you. I currently use the ankle weight method that’s about 90% effective and would be enough IF my dog didn’t like to ride in my lap and the weight smacks his back during turns. It also occasionally gets hung on him while trying turn and that’s another hazard I’d like to avoid.

 

[tgbuckner001]

Since it's not likely something I (myself) will want to sell for liability reasons and I'm not in it for the $$$ I'm not concerned with any IP. I'm using his board for the prototype:
https://copperhilltech.com/teensy-4-0-can-fd-and-lin-bus-breakout-board/

If you want to buy one, I'll send you the few other parts, program, and details on how to plug it into the truck,, it's super easy, takes about 5min.

If anyone else here is curious why not just stop here and give it to the community like this, it's because this device should cost less than $50,, maybe it's not worth it, maybe we just need to stick with the DIY approach since we all know someone would buy this and decide to take a nap on the highway

[email protected] Ill buy and test for you. Happy to do it and will even pay what you'd like for the test unit.

 

[tgbuckner001]

[email protected] Ill buy and test for you. Happy to do it and will even pay what you'd like for the test unit.

Keep in mind. Im 75 so not up to speed with advanced techniques. I do have a technical background but have slowed a bit

 

[RickLightning]

I'm confused. You aren't going to sell it for liability reasons, but then you say you'll sell the parts?

 

[Space Flash]

Just curious @ZSC100, when the device is installed, does it still allow you to actually adjust the follow distance with the steering wheel button? TIA!

 

[EVO]

Does it work on all roads? I mean gravel, roads and roads with no lines like the coma does. Or is this just limited to well-marked roads?

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