It appears that Cadillac is going to be the first to offer a hands-and-feet-free driving mode for one of it’s vehicles. Announced by General Motors CEO Mary Barra during a keynote speech, the system will unveil in the upcoming Cadillac large-sedan, one believed to be inspired by the Elmiraj concept car named LTS and will be called Super Cruise. The system relies on a 5.6 gigahertz vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure system that allows cars to “talk” to nearby cars and sensors placed along the road, which in turn provide the car with the proper inputs to maintain course. This is not a 100% autonomous system, however. The car will not steer away from an object like the Google car does, but instead will communicate a warning to the driver. The driver of the car will be responsible for a proper response.
Considering all of the recall issues that General Motors has been dealing with, is it the right time to be breaking out such high-end technology that hasn’t been widely used yet? I’m all for the Elmiraj concept coming out, and while I’m certain it will be a sedan, a part of me hopes it comes out a coupe like the concept is. But as far as the Super Cruise system, I’m very, very hesitant to welcome it. Part of the issue stems from the lack of current established sensor network to support the requirements for the V-to-I system to function properly. Currently GM is working with the University of Michigan to set up about 120 miles of roadway around Detroit, Michigan to test the vehicle-to-infrastructure technology.
Expect a form of Super Cruise to start appearing in 2017 Cadillacs, particularly higher-end CTS and the upcoming large sedan.
The non-intervening warning system may not be a lack of technological ability. It may be a smart legal play.
Think of this: in a no-win situation (computer realizes it is going to either hit car A or B, no work around, or maybe pedestrian C or D) the computer has to make a choice somehow. Somebody / something is going to get hit based on what the computer does. So somehow, the computer has ethics built into it – and the company who programs the computer is ultimately responsible for it’s actions. Does GM want to be in that position? It almost certainly does not.
A VERY NICE point.
Cadillac can’t even remember to hook up shift cables at the factory (Recall #14197A) and they are going to attempt this? Wonderful
All too well said . And all too true . Gee … how many Cadillac models have been recalled in the last five years ? ( Answer ; All of them ) And we’re going to trust Cadillac or GM in general to build a safe reliable Self Drive system when in fact no one else has been able to ?
Cadillac . The pinacle of Automotive Innovation . At some point in a very distant past perhaps . But definitely not any longer . Having long since morphed into ” I wish I was an American BMW ” CattleCraps
GuitarSlinger, I see that you’ve changed your screen name to ColoradoKid, however you are still the same elitist, pompous asshole that you are. You are not fooling me with your name change.
Good call 75Duster, I’ve been waiting for him to resuface with a new alas. Same old attitude
That concept car is a beauty.
Never mind this drive by itself stuff. That car BEEEutiful. If all GM’s cars looked that good they would sell a hell of a lot more of them. Just goes to show ya when they want to do it they can. Blows the styling of any Jap or Euro company straight to hell. I hope they still have the electric trunk pull down.
America’s welfare system pays for smart phones, gaming systems, steak, and now–tah dah, self-driving Cadillacs–the Heartbreak of America, building automobiles for the unprincipled–despicable!!!!
I can just imagine the recall notices going out for that one after a few fatal crashes!
GM’s record on technology lately is not very good (a simple ignition key) generates Congressional hearings!
LOL!
If the “right two” Cadillac vehicles “see” each other on the road,will they fall in love with each other?
GM building self driving cars? I’ve heard scarier things, but not many!
This car still makes me think that GM has a design sub-department tasked with making their cars look like they’ve been sat on and squashed partially flat.