Currently, the use of GM’s hands-free driver assistance system, Super Cruise, is restricted to certain divided highways. However, according to some reports, the company is working on expanding its capabilities so that it will be able to work on city streets. According to Doug Parks, executive vice president of the brand, this new advanced semi-autonomous driving platform has been called internally “Ultra Cruise.”
This option, as well as a parking and lane change system, will allow GM to get closer to Tesla‘s Autopilot. To date, nothing is known about the release schedule, but the news is very interesting in view of future scenarios.
Doug Parks said that the new system would not be fully autonomous. Ultra Cruise will require that drivers always remain alert and attentive to intervene in case of need.
Elon Musk introduced its driver assistance system back in 2015. GM also launched Super Cruise two years later, in 2017, on the CT6 model. Due to its slower launch and additional safety measures, the Super Cruise did not receive as much attention as the Tesla Autopilot. The latter has more functionality, for example, is able to drive a car on the streets. But, Tesla ran into problems after several fatal crashes and abuses of drivers.
Unlike the Tesla Autopilot, Super Cruise is limited to more than 200,000 miles (over 320,000 km) of motorways with limited access to the United States and Canada. The American manufacturer’s plan is to bring this technical solution to 22 models by 2023. Super Cruise currently works only on the highway and on the routes mapped by GM and its partners. A camera is mounted inside the steering of GM vehicles to monitor the driver in order to avoid distractions or anything else during the assisted driving system.
