Cadillac developing semi-autonomous technology for driverless vehicles
Cadillac has begun road testing a new semi-autonomous technology called Super Cruise that is capable of fully automatic steering, braking and lane centreing in motorway driving under certain optimal conditions. The system, it says, could be ready for production vehicles by mid-decade.
Super Cruise is designed to ease the driver's workload on the road, 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, vp of Cadillac marketing. "Our goal with advanced technologies like this is to lead in delivering an intuitive user experience."
According to Butler, the lane centering technology relies on forward looking cameras to detect lane markings and GPS map data to detect curves and other road characteristics. Drivers will, however, need to steer when reliable data is unavailable due to factors such as weather and visibility.
"The primary goal of GM's autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle development is safety," Butler said. "In the coming years, autonomous driving systems paired with advanced safety systems could help eliminate crashes 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."
