Exploring Ultra Cruise and Its Future in Hands-Free Driving
The future of driving is evolving, and General Motors is at the forefront of this revolution. As the company develops its hands-free driving technology, it has ambitious plans to expand the capabilities of its Super Cruise system. Currently operational on pre-mapped highways, GM aims to take hands-free driving to a broader range of environments.
One of the significant advancements on the horizon is Ultra Cruise. This innovative system was announced by GM’s Doug Parks during the Citi 2020 Car of the Future Symposium. He expressed the vision of Ultra Cruise as a system ready for “all driving, all the time.” In simple terms, Ultra Cruise is designed to manage driving tasks in neighborhoods, cities, and subdivisions—beyond just highways.
Ultra Cruise: Competing with Tesla’s Autopilot
While the name Ultra Cruise is still regarded as a working title, it certainly captures attention. Unlike Tesla’s Autopilot, this name does not suggest that drivers can completely relinquish control. Parks stressed the importance of remaining alert, stating, “We’re not saying that Ultra Cruise will be fully autonomous 100 percent of the time, although that could be one of the endgames.”
This positions Ultra Cruise in direct competition with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Capability package, which offers a more advanced version of Autopilot. Tesla’s package provides features such as navigating on highways, self-parking, and even driving towards a user when summoned. Reports suggest that Tesla plans to extend these capabilities to city streets and incorporate advanced traffic signal responses.
Super Cruise Rollout
First introduced on the 2018 Cadillac CT6 sedan, Super Cruise has undergone enhancements and is being expanded across more vehicles in the Cadillac lineup. This rollout is set to begin with the 2021 CT4 and CT5 sedans, along with the 2021 Escalade. In a notable move, GM plans to include the updated Chevrolet Bolt among the first non-Cadillac vehicles to benefit from the Super Cruise system by 2023.
The current Super Cruise system operates on over 200,000 miles of highway in North America and is continuously expanding its coverage. A distinct advantage of Super Cruise lies in its operation. Unlike other semi-autonomous driving systems, users of Super Cruise do not need to keep their hands on the wheel; however, they must maintain a vigilant gaze forward. A built-in camera ensures drivers are prepared to reclaim control if necessary.
Enhancements designed for the 2021 model-year Cadillacs include advanced steering and speed control features, improved camera technology that reduces glare from sunlight, and the capability to navigate freeway interchanges. Moreover, Super Cruise can now change lanes and execute passing maneuvers when drivers activate their turn signals on clear roads.
