Hands-Free Active Driving Assist Availability

[JeepFanChicago]

I hope my Summit will have the 'hands free' function added via software since I already have the camera installed for monitoring my drowsiness. Wait and see I guess!

You really have the camera that sits on the steering wheel? That is the first I've heard of anyone coming remotely close to saying its available. Was even at the dealership Saturday (getting an oil change) and didn't seem like it was order able. Its the only thing keeping me (and I think Indigovic) from buying right now!

 

[TampaHoosier]

I hope my Summit will have the 'hands free' function added via software since I already have the camera installed for monitoring my drowsiness. Wait and see I guess!

So we all (Summit and SR) have the Drowsy Detection functionality. @Indigovic was keen to look in the manual and figure out there are no cameras it’s just algorithms monitoring driving behavior (basically). There’s a little camera bump that needs to be purchased and installed on the steering wheel. As I noted earlier I would bet it’s not just going to be plug n play and some sort of flash or update will be required.

 

[TampaHoosier]

Ok, who is brave enough to dig into the steering wheel of their Summit or Summit Reserve and look for the two plugs that show upon in the picture below. If they are there, i would assume it’s something we can order and add on ourselves. My wife is telling me to ”steer” clear of her steering wheel lol

 

[Indigovic]

Mopar does sell the interior cam separately (there’s a link on the previous page), but I’m not willing to order my GC without knowing for sure that the Hands-Free ADA functionality can really be added after delivery. Mopar does sell a lot of parts intended as replacement rather than add-on, after all.

Unfortunately, I suspect that’s something we’re not going to get assurance on without someone actually trying it!

 

[Indigovic]

Ok, who is brave enough to dig into the steering wheel of their Summit or Summit Reserve and look for the two plugs that show upon in the picture below. If they are there, i would assume it’s something we can order and add on ourselves. My wife is telling me to ”steer” clear of her steering wheel lol

There’s no picture on your post.

 

[TampaHoosier]

Mopar does sell the interior cam separately (there’s a link on the previous page), but I’m not willing to order my GC without knowing for sure that the Hands-Free ADA functionality can really be added after delivery. Mopar does sell a lot of parts intended as replacement rather than add-on, after all.

Unfortunately, I suspect that’s something we’re not going to get assurance on without someone actually trying it!

It’s on back order everywhere with no ETA so guess we have our reason. Flipping COVID shortage strikes again! It says in stock when you check the various mopar sites but I reached out to BAM and two others, already got the back order/no ETA email from each.

There’s no picture on your post.

Sorry forgot that part… here’s the pic of the plugs we need to hunt for.

 

[bgreenstone]

I will be seriously disappointed if the hands-free option is a subscription. Not a chance that I'll be nickel-and-dimed for an option I have to pay for up-front. I hope we find out for sure soon because it's the deciding factor if I get a 4xe when it comes out or wait until summer for the hands-free.

 

[JeepFanChicago]

I will be seriously disappointed if the hands-free option is a subscription. Not a chance that I'll be nickel-and-dimed for an option I have to pay for up-front. I hope we find out for sure soon because it's the deciding factor if I get a 4xe when it comes out or wait until summer for the hands-free.

Prepare to be disappointed. Nearly positive you need to have an active UConnect subscription to use it. The open question is how long you’ll get included with the upfront purchase.

 

[bgreenstone]

Is there some technical reason that it needs to be part of a UConnect subscription, or is Jeep just being greedy?

 

[Indigovic]

There’s a specific Jeep Connect subscription for it: the Hands-Free Active Driving Assist subscription. It does not overlap with, and is not part of, any other Jeep Connect sub. It appears that you get 3 years free; I don’t know what the sub cost is after that.

Oddly, several people (I think all GCL owners) who have basic Active Driving Assist—not Hands-Free Active Driving Assist—have reported that this sub is showing as currently active on their Jeep Connect accounts. None of their cars have the interior camera that’s an integral requirement for the Hands-Free ADA system, so they cannot actually use it.

The technological reason that it requires a subscription is because Hands-Free ADA only works on “select highways,” so the car must connect to Jeep’s network to determine if the road you’re on has been selected.

 

[Indigovic]

By the way, the Jeep website now lists Hands-Free ADA as coming “Summer 2022.” ☹️

 

[JeepFanChicago]

By the way, the Jeep website now lists Hands-Free ADA as coming “Summer 2022.” ☹️

Yea, that flipped awhile back. More interesting is that they removed hands free entirely from the Wagoneer page.

 

[holloman98]

Here is something I just noticed with the 2022 normal and 4xe configs int he two row; If you click on the Summit or SR trims on the 4xe build and price site, you can see the little ir/vision sensor on top of the steering column in the interior preview render. That is the device needed for the hand's off, from what I was reading in the general WL 2022 user manual yesterday. That sensor does not show up in the interior preview for the Overland or lower trims. Soooooo, hopefully the 2022 so come with hands off whenever they get here.

I hope so! I currently have a 2022 GC Summit Reserve on order and really looked forward to the HF ADA being included

 

[JeepFanChicago]

Any thoughts if you look at the Standard Features on the differences between the "Active Driving Assist" and the "Highway Assist" in the safety section on a Summit?

 

[Indigovic]

Any thoughts if you look at the Standard Features on the differences between the "Active Driving Assist" and the "Highway Assist" in the safety section on a Summit?

Where do you see “Highway Assist” mentioned?

 

[JeepFanChicago]

Where do you see “Highway Assist” mentioned?

In the Build and Price, if you click on standard features at the bottom. If you look on the Overland, it appears as an option in the package but also implies its the same as the active driving assist.

 

[Indigovic]

In the Build and Price, if you click on standard features at the bottom. If you look on the Overland, it appears as an option in the package but also implies its the same as the active driving assist.

Weird. That phrase doesn’t appear in the Grand Cherokee manual, or in the Stellantis Specs or Features docs for GC—but it is used (with no definition provided) in their Features docs for a Compass. I did find it described on a Jeep dealer’s page for a 2022 Compass: https://www.villagejeepmi.com/2022-jeep-compass-royal-oak--mi.htm
”This system combines driver-assistance tech features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist to create a semi-autonomous driving experience on the highway.”

It appears to me this may be the Compass equivalent of the GC’s Base Active Driving Assist. (The words “Active Driving Assist” don’t appear in the Compass Features docs.)

 

[Indigovic]

It appears to me [that Highway Assist] may be the Compass equivalent of the GC’s Base Active Driving Assist.

Confirmed. I read the Compass manual's Highway Assist System section, and it's functionally identical to the GC's Base Active Driving Assist section.

 

[baconisafruit]

Overland with ADA owner here:

I'm not 100% but I want to say highway assist system = SOS button on mirror like OnStar but FCA brand.

I have the ADA and it's pretty awesome but definitely highway only. Light rest of my thumb at the bottom is all that's needed (seems like it's capacitive or similar and not grip/tension). I recently did 1100mi MD to FL and used it 95% of the way with sufficient performance. I think it's impressive but compared to my friends 2016 Tesla, it's way behind. Tesla can leave the highway and see street lights and react. Jeep's will blow through the intersection if a car isn't stopping in front of it. Although scary at first, it does a great job going from 80mph to 25mph sudden backup and then resuming to 80mph when it clears. I'll never buy another car again without at least Jeep's ADA capability and hope for better.

 

[Indigovic]

I confimed above that Highway Assist System is what Base Active Driving Assist is called on the Jeep Compass. So the build tool just has the wrong name for the feature (in addition to having the right name).

Jeep’s ADA does indeed use capacitance sensors in the outer rim of the steering wheel. (The manual even cautions you to make sure you don’t just touch the inner rim.)