Open-Source Driving Systems Draw Scrutiny Over Car Conversions

Open-source driving software is stirring debate after being used to convert ordinary cars into vehicles with self-driving capabilities.

The controversy comes amid a US investigation into five crashes linked to Openpilot, putting the safety of such systems under scrutiny.

The reported link does not establish that the software caused the crashes. The available information does not specify the circumstances of the incidents or the findings of the investigation.

At the heart of the debate is the distinction between adding automated driving functions to a conventional car and making it fully autonomous. Describing a modified vehicle as self-driving does not, on its own, establish that it can operate safely without human supervision.