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GM To Introduce Hands-Free Driving In Cadillac Model
cold fjord notes that drivers will be able to switch a new Cadillac model to partial auto-pilot. General Motors Co. (GM), the largest U.S. automaker, will introduce a Cadillac model in two years that can travel on the highway without the driver holding the steering wheel or putting a foot on a pedal. The 2017 Cadillac model will feature "Super Cruise" technology that takes control of steering, acceleration and braking at highway speeds of 70 miles per hour or in stop-and-go congested traffic, Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra said yesterday in a speech at the Intelligent Transport System World Congress in Detroit. GM declined to release the name of the model that will carry the feature. Barra also said GM in two years will become the first automaker to equip a model with so-called vehicle-to-vehicle technology that enables the car to communicate with other autos with similar abilities to warn of traffic hazards and improve road safety. GM will make the V2V feature standard on its 2017 Cadillac CTS sedan, debuting in the second half of 2016, she said. The Super Cruise feature will be on a different Cadillac model and goes beyond similar technology available on some Mercedes-Benz models that operates only at low speeds.
given that GM has had to recall more cars in 2014 than they sold globally in 2011,2012, and 2013 combined, it strikes me as almost surreal that they are floating the idea that consumers should 'trust them' in their ability to produce this technology safely and bug-free.
then again, people do have pretty short memories, and are easily distracted by shiny things . either way though, i think this can safely be called either chutzpah, or some kind of weird statement regarding what they think consumer's attention span is.
I can't even begin to imagine the ridiculous agreement they'll expect you to sign when purchasing the car. That sound you can hear is every single lawyer in GM's legal department getting an instant erection whilst simultaneously browsing the internet for super-expensive toys to order.
I just love how we're taking the incremental steps to fully autonomous vehicles.
And I'd LOVE to see the specs for the car to car communication. Because I'll lay even money that security was one of the last thoughts of the engineers and that the C2C interface will have direct access to the cars CAN bus or whatever it is GM uses these days. Fun times!
I don't doubt GM and others can make this work. But we'll never know how many of the "sudden acceleration" Toyota accidents were actually user errors blamed via "Oh yeah, me too. That's the ticket!" excuse. Toyota eventually just settled with everyone rather than go through the cases all trial-by-trial. In other words, even if it works perfectly, how many drivers will blame the technology irregardless? And if it doesn't work perfectly, how many juries will err on the side of the victim?
Gently reply
Now *there's* a phrase to fill you with confidence. "Works right up to the point where you need to be paying attention, except you won't be because the car is driving itself."
And that is exactly why they fixed it this way. Because it fixes the problem with minimal cost of materials, and minimal labor. Replacing the lock cylinder would not only be a more complex task tin terms of parts, but it would also require a mechanic to install it. By replacing the key fob, they can just mail out the replacement. A really smart engineer would have tried to get away with issuing customers a detachable key ring that would allow the key fob to be used without keys hanging off of it (assuming i'm understanding the problem correctly).
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
I'm with the parent. If I can't fall asleep, or read a book, or watch a movie, then I'm not interested. Unless they can do it for the same price, or minimal price difference than a similar car without the feature. It would be nice to have my car drive down the road for me. But if I still have to pay attention to traffic and have my hands on the wheel, then it's not really giving me much of and advantage over traditional driving. Personally, I think it would be more dangerous because if the system works well enough, I may be lulled into false sense of security, causing me to not pay attention. When the car inevitably has a problem, I'm not going to be watching, and I'm not going to be prepared to take over in sufficient time to correct the problem.
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
Not to mention that the best option for surprise wildlife is 'drive straight'. Many will reflexively attempt to turn to avoid the animal and end up rolling.
Although I mostly agree with this in theory and also, in theory, people should never be on the interstate if you go this direction then
you better make sure your "is this an animal or a person" algorithm is rock solid.