GM is working on an eyes-off, hands-off driving system
Seven years ago, GM became the first automaker to offer hands-free driving when it rolled out its Super Cruise advanced driver assistance system.
What is Level 3 Autonomous Driving?
Level 3 autonomous driving, also known as "hands-off" or "eyes-off" driving, refers to a system that can take control of a vehicle on its own, but only in specific conditions. In this scenario, the driver is not required to be attentive, but they are still responsible for taking control of the vehicle if needed.
Level 3 autonomous driving systems use a combination of sensors, cameras, and software to monitor the road and surrounding environment. They can recognize and respond to various driving scenarios, such as traffic lights, intersections, and lane markings. However, they are still limited by their programming and may not be able to handle complex or unexpected situations.
GM's Super Cruise System
GM's Super Cruise system is a Level 2 autonomous driving system, which means it can assist with driving tasks, but the driver must remain attentive and take control of the vehicle at any moment. Super Cruise uses a combination of lidar map data, high-precision GPS, cameras, and radar sensors to monitor the road and surrounding environment.
When Super Cruise is activated, it can accelerate or brake to maintain a selected following distance from a vehicle ahead, steer to keep its lane position, and make automatic change lanes to pass slower traffic. However, the driver must remain attentive and be prepared to take control of the vehicle at any moment.
Level 3 System: Hands-Off and Eyes-Off Driving
GM's goal is to develop a Level 3 system that would allow drivers to keep their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel. This would be achieved through the use of advanced sensor technology, such as high-resolution cameras and lidar sensors, as well as sophisticated software that can recognize and respond to various driving scenarios.
The Level 3 system would be designed to operate on highways and at reduced speeds, where the environment is less complex and the risk of accidents is lower. However, it's still unclear when this technology would become publicly available and how it would be implemented in production vehicles.
Advancements and Future Plans
GM has made significant progress in expanding Super Cruise's availability across its brands, including Chevrolet and GMC. By the end of 2025, Super Cruise will be available on approximately 750,000 miles of roads in the United States and Canada.
In addition to the expansion of Super Cruise, GM has also introduced new features and technologies to enhance the driving experience. For example, the company has developed a driver attention assist system, which uses cameras and sensors to monitor the driver's attention and alertness. This system can be used in conjunction with Super Cruise to provide additional safety features and prevent distracted driving.
New Hires and Strategic Directions
The recent hiring of Anantha Kancherla, a former executive at Lyft and Meta, has raised hopes that GM is ramping up its efforts to develop a Level 3 system. Kancherla has been tasked with expanding or innovating on the foundation of Super Cruise, leveraging its software capabilities to drive progress.
Kancherla's background in autonomous driving and his experience at Lyft and Meta make him an ideal candidate to lead GM's efforts in this area. His hiring has sent a clear message that GM is committed to advancing its autonomous driving technology and is willing to invest in the necessary talent and resources to achieve its goals.
Conclusion
GM's plans for a Level 3 autonomous driving system are significant and ambitious. The company's goal is to develop a system that would allow drivers to keep their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel, while still ensuring safety and security.
While it's unclear when this technology will become publicly available, GM's recent advancements and hires suggest that the company is making significant progress in this area. As the autonomous driving industry continues to evolve, GM's Level 3 system has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about driving and safety on the road.
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