General Motors (GM) has recently made a significant announcement in the realm of self-driving technology, shedding light on both the similarities and differences between GM and Tesla's approach. This announcement not only underscores GM's commitment to driver-assistance technology but also highlights the industry's discourse on the subject.
On Thursday, GM revealed that it has nearly doubled the network of roads open to its Super Cruise hands-free driving technology, spanning an impressive 750,000 miles. To put this into perspective, the distance between Earth and the moon is roughly 240,000 miles, firmly establishing GM's network as the largest in North America.
It's important to note that Super Cruise is not GM's most advanced level of driver-assistance technology; that distinction belongs to Ultra Cruise. Nevertheless, Super Cruise is capable of executing various driving tasks, albeit with continuous human supervision. This places it on par with similar systems offered by other automakers.
Anantha Kancherla, GM's Vice President of Advanced Driver Assistance Technologies, expressed the company's unwavering commitment to the safe deployment of Super Cruise. In a news release, Kancherla stated, "GM is all-in on safely deploying Super Cruise as we make the technology available on more vehicles, more roads, and for more people to enjoy. A key part of that is expanding the road network—in this case nearly doubling it again—with LIDAR mapped highways. High-precision LIDAR mapping gives us an operating domain where we are confident in Super Cruise's abilities."
LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, essentially functions as laser-based radar.
Tesla drivers might find GM's claim of having the largest network somewhat perplexing since Tesla's driver assistance technology, known as Enhanced AutoPilot and Full Self-Driving, is designed to operate anywhere. However, it's important to note that these Tesla products are not hands-free. Drivers are required to touch the steering wheel to demonstrate their attentiveness to the system.
In summary, GM's recent expansion of its self-driving network showcases its dedication to advancing driver-assistance technology. While there are differences in approach between GM and Tesla, both companies are contributing to the evolving landscape of autonomous driving.
Auto Makers and Self-Driving Technology
Auto makers are utilizing a combination of interior cameras and haptic feedback to ensure compliance with regulations. Tesla, for instance, employs both these methods, while GM relies solely on cameras. The main objective of these measures is to prioritize safety and ensure that drivers remain attentive and do not exploit the systems. While GM's use of cameras allows it to label its system as "hands-free," Tesla's Super Cruise and Enhanced Autopilot offer similar capabilities.
However, unlike GM, Tesla does not restrict its driver assistance to specific roads. Here lies another distinction between the two auto makers. Tesla's system prompts the driver to take control when it detects factors like weather conditions or the absence of road lines. Nevertheless, in most cases, if a driver wishes to activate the system, they have the flexibility to do so.
Tesla adopts a more daring approach when it comes to the deployment of self-driving technology. This strategy is one of the reasons why Tesla's technology faces more rigorous scrutiny compared to other auto makers.
Credit must also be given to Elon Musk for inviting this additional scrutiny. Musk frequently discusses self-driving technology and firmly believes that Tesla is on the verge of creating a technology that allows drivers to safely divert their attention.
Achieving this milestone is the ultimate goal for GM, Tesla, and all other auto makers. Once this is accomplished, they can provide software subscriptions enabling drivers to undertake road trips while napping or operate fleets of robotaxis, offering commuters transportation services akin to taxis. However, such advancements in technology and services are still several years away.
On Thursday, GM stock rose by 0.5% in premarket trading, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite futures experienced a slight increase of approximately 0.1%. Conversely, Tesla stock witnessed a gain of around 1.1%.
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