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Self-Driving Car in Cadillac’s Future

Rob

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Self-Driving Car in Cadillac’s Future

‘Super cruise’ technology could be ready by mid-decade

2012-04-20


DETROIT – Cadillac is road testing a semi-autonomous technology it calls “Super Cruise” that is capable of fully automatic steering, braking and lane-centering in highway driving under certain optimal conditions. The system could be ready for production vehicles by mid-decade.

Super Cruise is designed to ease the driver’s workload on the freeway, in both bumper-to-bumper traffic and on long road trips by relying on a fusion of radar, ultrasonic sensors, cameras and GPS map data.
“Super Cruise has the potential to improve driver performance and enjoyment,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. “Our goal with advanced technologies, like this and our CUE system, is to lead in delivering an intuitive user experience.”

Many of the building block technologies for Super Cruise are already available on the all-new 2013 Cadillac XTS and ATS luxury sedans, as part of the available Driver Assist Package. It is the first Cadillac system to use sensor fusion to provide 360 degrees of crash risk detection and enhanced driver assist features, including:

  • Rear Automatic Braking
  • Full-Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Intelligent Brake Assist
  • Forward Collision Alert
  • Safety Alert Seat
  • Automatic Collision Preparation
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • Adaptive Forward Lighting
  • Rear Vision Camera With Dynamic Guidelines
  • Head Up Display
The key to delivering semi-autonomous capability will be the integration of lane- centering technology that relies on forward-looking cameras to detect lane markings and GPS map data to detect curves and other road characteristics, said John Capp, General Motors director of Global Active Safety Electronics and Innovation.

Even when semi-autonomous driving capability is available on vehicles, the system will have operational limitations based on external factors such as weather and visibility of lane markings. When reliable data is unavailable, the driver will need to steer.

GM and its research partners recently conducted a study funded by the Federal Highway Administration on human factors in semi-autonomous vehicle operation. When asked, some study participants expressed strong interest in having a vehicle that could drive itself, particularly for long trips when lane centering and full-speed range adaptive cruise control could help lighten the driver’s workload.

“The primary goal of GM’s autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle development is safety,” Capp said. “In the coming years, autonomous driving systems paired with advanced safety systems could help eliminate the crash altogether by interceding on behalf of drivers before they’re even aware of a hazardous situation. More than ever, consumers will be able to trust their car to do the right thing.”
 
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Interesting Rob, thanks for sharing. Ever since I was a kid we have heard of self driving cars and automatic roadways. I can still see the articles in Popular Science magazine.

Call me a doubter, but I would venture to say that it will never happen. All it will take is the first accident under "guidance" and the legal battles will begin. The liability is just too great to shift driving responsibility away from the driver.

No way will any software or sensor react to the car slamming on the brakes in front of you, the deer running into you, or the box falling off a truck, etc.

I'd still love to give it a try though!

Bob
 
I agree with you Bob. I find it amazing that the manufacturers would want to veture into this area due to the potential liability. Still, adaptive cruise was a first step and I haven't heard of anyone having a problem with it. I am also wondering about the statement of relieving the workload on the driver on long trips. I don't think driving my car on long trips is much of a workload and what are they trying to accomplish by giving the driver more freedom anyway? The ability to send more text messages while the car is driving itself.
 
You older guys out there (yeah, I know, I'm not too far behind); Did they say the same thing about speed control when it came on the market?

My Grandmother's 61 Buick Lesabre had a buzzer that would go off if you exceeded a pre-selected speed. In the days before cruise control.

Is speed control allowed on semi trucks yet?

Bob
 

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