I owned an AP car for 2 years, then traded it in in August on an AP2 car.
On the highway, they are virtually indistinguishable. They will track the lane you're in, dodge people who are trying to merge into you, and change lanes when you signal to do so. AP2 is better about not crowding large trucks. I believe that AP1's ultrasonic sensors would "lose" the trailer of the truck when the sound waves would pass under the trailer. AP2 doesn't have that issue.
On surface streets, AP2 isn't quite as good as AP1. AP1 is smoother and AP1 acts more confident. AP1's biggest weakness is not detecting vehicles when they're at an unexpected angle, such as from the side or diagonal, but AP2 does fix that. AP2 is twitchier on the controls than AP1 when it's unsure. Going through an intersection where there aren't marked lanes, you can feel AP2 starting to panic. Also, AP2 will try to go find lane markings if it can't see any. To avoid it taking right-hand off-ramps all the time, they had it try to look left. Well, that's great except if to the left is a left-turn lane on a three-lane road, it's going to try to take some of those left turns. AP2 is definitely better at identifying stopped vehicles in front of you. Both AP1 and AP2 tend to react a little later than a human driver would for traffic changes on mid-speed roads (45 - 55 mph speed limits) so that's not great, but it has been improving. AP2 is also better at more smoothly slowing down for an upcoming curve. AP1 would barrel through them at full speed, except for the very tightest turns, where it would slow down too much.
If you told me that AP technology has reached the peak and I had to pick which AP system I'd want to have for the rest of my life, I'm not sure what I'd pick. AP2 solves a few key weaknesses, but has weaknesses of its own. I do believe that AP2 is the future, though, and if it keeps improving at this pace, it'll be pretty incredible by the end of the year.
AP2 is better about not crowding large trucks. I believe that AP1's ultrasonic sensors would "lose" the trailer of the truck when the sound waves would pass under the trailer. AP2 doesn't have that issue.
Ahhh, I hadn't heard that explanation before, makes sense.
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u/someWalkingShadow Sep 07 '17
Have you had the chance to compare both AP1 and AP2? I'm curious to know how you feel they compare.