General Motors (GM) has taken a major step forward in autonomous driving technology with its new hands-off driving system, marking a significant advancement in the industry. The new system, known as Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving, allows drivers to take their eyes off the road under certain conditions, building on GM’s existing hands-free driving system, Super Cruise. This innovation places GM at the forefront of the autonomous driving revolution, creating a bridge between current driver-assistance technologies and fully autonomous systems.
What is Level 3 (L3) Driving?
The new Level 3 (L3) system is designed for highway driving at lower speeds, allowing drivers to temporarily stop paying attention to the road. However, the system still requires drivers to take over control when necessary. Unlike fully autonomous Level 4 systems, such as Waymo’s, which do not require driver intervention in specific areas, GM’s Level 3 technology is geared toward making highway driving more convenient while ensuring driver safety remains a priority.
General Motors’ existing Super Cruise system, which is classified as a Level 2 (L2) advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road at all times, even though the vehicle can handle several driving tasks. With this upcoming L3 upgrade, drivers will be able to engage with their environment in a more relaxed way, trusting the vehicle to manage most of the driving on highways. However, they will still need to be ready to intervene when prompted.
Super Cruise’s Cutting-edge Features and Expanding Reach
Super Cruise was the world’s first true hands-free driving system when GM launched it in 2017. It uses a combination of high-tech features like lidar maps, GPS, radar sensors, and a driver-attention monitoring system. This allows the vehicle to maintain its position in the lane, change lanes to pass slower traffic, and adjust speed automatically.
Currently, Super Cruise is available on several GM models, including vehicles from Cadillac, GMC, and Chevrolet. The company has also announced plans to expand the system’s reach, covering 750,000 miles of highways across the U.S. and Canada by 2025. This expansion will allow more drivers to experience hands-free driving, even on rural roads and minor highways, making it accessible for a wider range of everyday driving situations.
GM’s Strategy and Timeline for L3
GM has yet to announce a specific timeline for when its Level 3 (L3) driving system will be available to consumers, but it is clear the company is committed to delivering the technology when it is fully ready. Dave Richardson, GM’s Senior Vice President of Software and Services Engineering, emphasized that the company is focused on perfecting the system before launch, to avoid eroding driver trust. He likened the experience of launching too early to “the anxiety of driving with an inexperienced teenager.”
In preparation for the L3 launch, GM has made several strategic moves, including hiring Anantha Kancherla as Vice President of ADAS in December 2023. Kancherla’s extensive experience in technology companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Lyft will be instrumental in expanding and refining Super Cruise’s capabilities as GM works toward L3. His appointment signals GM’s commitment to building a strong team of experts to lead the development of autonomous driving technology.
Future of Autonomous Driving at GM
GM’s push to advance Super Cruise into Level 3 territory demonstrates the automaker’s ambition to remain a leader in the autonomous vehicle space. The Level 3 system aims to strike a balance between convenience and safety, giving drivers more freedom while keeping them engaged in critical moments. This innovation positions GM to compete with other major players in the autonomous driving race, such as Tesla and Mercedes-Benz.
The automaker’s strategic focus on software development and driver-assistance technologies is part of its broader plan to dominate the future of autonomous driving. By enhancing the Super Cruise system and moving toward L3 capabilities, GM is laying the groundwork for even more advanced systems, including eventual fully autonomous vehicles.
Conclusion
General Motors’ new hands-off driving system marks a major leap forward in the evolution of autonomous driving technology. By transitioning from a Level 2 to a Level 3 system, GM is bringing the future of hands-free, eyes-off driving closer to reality. The upcoming Level 3 system will allow drivers to disengage from highway driving under certain conditions, providing greater convenience while still maintaining the safety and security that drivers expect.
With the expansion of Super Cruise and the company’s clear vision for autonomous technology, GM is not only changing the way people drive but also shaping the future of the automotive industry. As the company continues to innovate, the world can expect even more advancements in hands-free driving systems, all while ensuring that safety remains at the core of its development.
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