Cadillac to Introduce Super Cruise This Fall
Feature will debut on the 2018 Cadillac CT6
After a few setbacks, Cadillac is finally ready to introduce its semi-autonomous driving system called Super Cruise. The feature will debut on the 2018 Cadillac CT6 Prestige sedan.
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Originally scheduled to roll out in fall 2016, the automaker pushed back that timeline to perfect the technology. Now, the feature will arrive this fall to enable automatic control of speed and steering during highway driving.
Super Cruise takes a shot against Tesla's Autopilot, although the two systems aren't quite the same. Unlike other semi-autonomous systems, Cadillac says, Super Cruise can monitor a driver's attentiveness to the road ahead. The company also says it's the first to use precision LiDAR mapping data in conjunction with sensors, cameras, and GPS technology.
"Cadillac's philosophy is to elevate driving," said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen in a press release. "Super Cruise enables safe, simple hands-free driving for the highway."
Infrared lights and a small camera on top of the steering wheel column monitor a driver's head position, and if the system detects the driver isn't paying attention to the road, it will issue alerts to help the driver regain focus. If the driver continuously ignores the alerts, Super Cruise can bring the vehicle to a safe stop.
When combined with other features, the precision LiDAR map data improves vehicle control through hills and curves in the road. Cadillac says it has mapped every mile of highways with clearly defined on- and off-ramps in the U.S., and its GPS tech can measure a driver's real-time location four to eight times more precisely than traditional systems.
As Cadillac introduces Super Cruise, Tesla is gearing up to launch Autopilot Hardware 2, which will enable fully autonomous driving. In fact, some companies including Ford and BMW are getting ready to launch advanced self-driving cars early next decade.
Source: Cadillac
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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