The R1T and R1S models have gained a handful of useful features in the latest update, including an enhanced Gear Guard system that now includes Drive Cam and Incidents functions. Drive Cam acts as a dashcam and it uses the vehicle's existing cameras to record and save videos of your journey. To activate the feature, owners need to connect a 128 GB to 2 TB USB-C flash drive and then turn on Drive Cam. Once activated, cameras record and save video of your entire trip. If you want to create a separate video, you can tap "Save Clip" on the infotainment system and it will film a two-minute video. Rivian notes that this is ideal for scenic drives and off-road adventures.
In our latest software update:
— Rivian (@Rivian) May 2, 2023
Record drives and incidents with new Gear Guard camera features
Set a custom charge limit
Name your vehicle!
Driver+ cameras continue operating in wider range of conditions
Read more: https://t.co/BMjeOlZPI8 pic.twitter.com/rWZD3ba2Ge
Incidents, on the other hand, is focused on capturing accidents as it can automatically record "certain driving events such as collisions or hard braking." When the feature is activated, "cameras continuously record video, but no footage is saved." If someone cuts you off and you slam on the brakes, 15 seconds of video prior to the event are saved, as are the following 1 minute and 45 seconds. This footage is recorded directly onto the internal hard drive, so no external flash drive is needed.
Besides the aforementioned features, the cameras for the Driver+ assistance systems can operate in a "much wider range of conditions" as tweaks have enabled them to handle "smudges or splashes on the windshield due to rain, or glare on the camera" itself. Owners can also name their vehicle and set a charge limit of between 50% and 100%. Rivian says the latter is useful when using public charging stations so "you won't need to pay for more charge than you need."
Rivian's over-the-air updates have been a hallmark of the company's approach to vehicle development. Instead of having to take your vehicle into a dealership for an upgrade, Rivian owners can simply download the latest updates from the comfort of their own garage. This allows the vehicles to get better with age, something that is particularly important in the electric vehicle space where technology is evolving at a breakneck pace.
One of the most exciting things about Rivian's approach to vehicle development is the company's willingness to listen to feedback from its customers. The addition of the dashcam and incident recorder is a perfect example of this. Rivian owners have been asking for these features, and the company has responded by delivering them in the latest over-the-air update.
Source: Rivian
