Several major automotive manufacturers think automated and semi automatic driving will be here in the relatively near future. Google has been working on completely automated vehicles that can drive with no interaction from a human. BMW, Ford, and now GM have all started talking about semi-autonomous driving capability.
The semi-autonomous driving capability is ideal for driving in traffic since it takes over primary driving controls. That means fewer accidents and rear-endings in traffic and the driver can take hands off the wheel and relax when cruising on the highway in most conditions.
Cadillac says that most of the technology needed for super cruise is already available on some of its vehicles in a special driver assistance packages.
Super cruise will use input from a variety of sensors, cameras, and GPS data along with radar to see the lines of the road and keep the vehicle in the lane without driver input. The technology will be able to completely stop the car in traffic and take off while steering all on its own.
“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.”
Cadillac says that the key technology is the automatic lane-centering tech. This technology is able to see the lanes and keep the vehicle between the lines. The super cruise technology would only work when visibility was good enough that the cameras sense the lane markings on both sides of the car. The usage of super cruise will be limited during adverse weather conditions.
“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.”
Source: DailyTech