GM is planning a major step forward in its eyes-free, hands-free driving system – India TV

Seven years after introducing the world’s first hands-free Super Cruise, General Motors (GM) is working on a revolutionary advancement that will enable drivers to take their eyes off the road. Dave Richardson, senior vice president of software engineering and services at GM, shared details about the upcoming system in a recent interview that would enable GM to push the boundaries of autonomous driving. The new system, known as Level 3 (L3), will allow drivers to stop driving completely under certain conditions, a significant step forward from today’s hands-free systems.

What is Level 3 (L3) driving?

Level 3, or L3, is not equivalent to fully autonomous cars such as those offered by companies like Waymo (Level 4). Instead, it is designed for highway driving and operates at reduced speeds, with the driver remaining in control but may temporarily lose attention. While Mercedes-Benz offers a limited L3 system called “Drive Pilot” in the U.S., GM’s planned upgrade to Super Cruise will make it one of the few automakers willing to implement sight-and-hands-free driving.

Current systems such as Tesla’s Autopilot and GM’s Super Cruise are considered Advanced Level 2 (L2) Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). They require drivers to keep their eyes on the road, even though the vehicle can assist with some driving-related tasks. The move to L3 would allow drivers to take over more of the car’s responsibilities without constant supervision, although they would still have to intervene when necessary.

State-of-the-art features and expanding range of Super Cruise

Super Cruise uses a range of technologies, including lidar mapping, high-precision GPS, radar sensors and a driver attention monitoring system. They enable the vehicle to maintain its position in a lane, change lanes to overtake slower traffic, and automatically adjust speed. GM’s advanced system was the first hands-free ADAS system when it launched in 2017, but its availability was initially limited to one model and select highways.

Currently, Super Cruise is available on many GM models, including GMC and Chevrolet, and plans to expand its coverage to 750,000 miles of roads in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2025. This includes rural and smaller highways, making the system more accessible for everyday driving.

GM strategy and schedule for L3

While GM has not yet provided a specific timeline for rolling out the L3 system to customers, Richardson emphasized that the company is aggressively pursuing that goal. He stressed that starting too early could create distrust among drivers, likening it to the fear of driving with an inexperienced teenager.

In preparation for the launch of the L3 system, GM has made strategic hires, including Anantha Kancherla as vice president of ADAS in December 2023. Kancherla, who has technology experience at companies such as Meta, Microsoft and Lyft, will play a key role in the development of Super Cruise capabilities.

The future of autonomous driving at GM

GM’s desire to push Super Cruise beyond L2 to L3 reflects GM’s ambition to stay ahead of the curve in the growing autonomous vehicle market. With growing software expertise and leadership in driver assistance systems, GM can revolutionize the future of hands-free, hands-free driving while maintaining the highest safety standards for its customers.

READ ALSO: Maruti Suzuki India to launch its first-ever electric vehicle with 500 km range in January