diff --git a/donkeycar/parts/controller.py b/donkeycar/parts/controller.py
index 5cb245344..08e1831ae 100644
--- a/donkeycar/parts/controller.py
+++ b/donkeycar/parts/controller.py
@@ -822,6 +822,7 @@ def __init__(self, poll_delay=0.0,
                  throttle_scale=1.0,
                  steering_scale=1.0,
                  throttle_dir=-1.0,
+                 ai_scale = 1.0,
                  dev_fn='/dev/input/js0',
                  auto_record_on_throttle=True):
 
@@ -833,6 +834,7 @@ def __init__(self, poll_delay=0.0,
         self.last_throttle_axis_val = 0
         self.throttle_scale = throttle_scale
         self.steering_scale = steering_scale
+        self.ai_scale = ai_scale
         self.throttle_dir = throttle_dir
         self.recording = False
         self.constant_throttle = False
@@ -1044,6 +1046,22 @@ def decrease_max_throttle(self):
 
         print('throttle_scale:', self.throttle_scale)
 
+    def increase_ai_throttle(self):
+        '''
+        increase AI throttle scale setting
+        '''
+        self.ai_scale = round(min(2.0, self.ai_scale + 0.01), 3)
+
+        print('AI scale :', self.ai_scale)
+
+    def decrease_ai_throttle(self):
+        '''
+        decrrease AI throttle scale setting
+        '''
+        self.ai_scale =  round(max(0.0, self.ai_scale - 0.01), 2)
+
+        print('AI Scale:', self.ai_scale)
+
 
     def toggle_constant_throttle(self):
         '''
@@ -1193,6 +1211,8 @@ def init_trigger_maps(self):
             'cross' : self.emergency_stop,
             'dpad_up' : self.increase_max_throttle,
             'dpad_down' : self.decrease_max_throttle,
+            'dpad_left' : self.decrease_ai_throttle,
+            'dpad_right' : self.increase_ai_throttle,
             'start' : self.toggle_constant_throttle,
             "R1" : self.chaos_monkey_on_right,
             "L1" : self.chaos_monkey_on_left,
@@ -1681,6 +1701,7 @@ def get_js_controller(cfg):
     ctr = cont_class(throttle_dir=cfg.JOYSTICK_THROTTLE_DIR,
                                 throttle_scale=cfg.JOYSTICK_MAX_THROTTLE,
                                 steering_scale=cfg.JOYSTICK_STEERING_SCALE,
+                                ai_scale = cfg.AI_THROTTLE_MULT,
                                 auto_record_on_throttle=cfg.AUTO_RECORD_ON_THROTTLE,
                                 dev_fn=cfg.JOYSTICK_DEVICE_FILE)
 
diff --git a/donkeycar/templates/complete.py b/donkeycar/templates/complete.py
index a77141454..a54b7656f 100644
--- a/donkeycar/templates/complete.py
+++ b/donkeycar/templates/complete.py
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ def drive(cfg, model_path=None, use_joystick=False, model_type=None,
                 throttle_dir=cfg.JOYSTICK_THROTTLE_DIR,
                 throttle_scale=cfg.JOYSTICK_MAX_THROTTLE,
                 steering_scale=cfg.JOYSTICK_STEERING_SCALE,
+                ai_scale = cfg.AI_THROTTLE_MULT,
                 auto_record_on_throttle=cfg.AUTO_RECORD_ON_THROTTLE)
                 ctr.set_deadzone(cfg.JOYSTICK_DEADZONE)          
             elif cfg.CONTROLLER_TYPE == "MM1":
@@ -488,6 +489,9 @@ class DriveMode:
         def run(self, mode,
                     user_angle, user_throttle,
                     pilot_angle, pilot_throttle):
+
+            mul = ctr.ai_scale
+
             if mode == 'user':
                 return user_angle, user_throttle
 
@@ -496,7 +500,7 @@ def run(self, mode,
 
             else:
                 return pilot_angle if pilot_angle else 0.0, \
-                       pilot_throttle * cfg.AI_THROTTLE_MULT \
+                       pilot_throttle * mul \
                            if pilot_throttle else 0.0
 
     V.add(DriveMode(),