We’re not quite at the point where mass-produced cars can handle every single driving situation with self-driving technology, but Cadillac’s Super Cruise is the only system that provides a true hands-free driving experience.
Wired dove into the Super Cruise system, equipped with the 2018 Cadillac CT6. Although the technology onboard is astounding, it’s the mapping that truly gives the system legs.
Cadillac and General Motors hired Ushr to drive every single mile of the United States’ and Canada’s interstate system to map ever straightaway, corner, turn, tollbooth and more. With the mapping, Super Cruise knows exactly where it’s at, and it knows when it can’t complete a certain stretch of driving.
It’s how the system knows to disengage as it approaches an area long before it causes issues for the driver. This gives the driver plenty of time to retake control of the car after a quick seat buzz and warning light.
Cadillac also keeps tabs on road construction. If a certain interstate is undergoing construction, Cadillac updates the system to let Super Cruise know it can’t function as intended in the area. When the construction wraps up, an over-the-air update tells Super Cruise to function again.
And we know Super Cruise is only the beginning. We’ll most certainly see the system as optional with the 2019 Cadillac XT4, which will debut next month, but Cadillac will once again be GM’s technology darling. Any future technology will debut with the luxury division first, and trickle down to other GM brands with time.
Comments
Does Super-Cruise incorporate PRT (Pothole Recognition Technology?) –Essential for drivers in New England. By the time you see one, (using the MK-1 Mod-1 eyeball) and place your hands on the steering wheel to take evasive action, it’s too late. Bent wheels aren’t cheap to replace.
How about a flashing rearward-facing, “Bumper Humper Alert” message to keep tail-gating highway hemorrhoids at least one car length away at 70 mph – Another NE must-have. Currently, we have to manually (old school) apply the brakes to give them a clue.
The only question you should ask: “Will it allow me to get frisky with my significant other without killing me?”
Why do you care about tailgaters? If they hit you it’s their fault in the accident! By you slamming on the brakes you are making it worse and you could actually have the accident be your fault.
Great logic there Brian. . . Why care about murderers? If they kill you, it’s their fault. . . Apparently, you’ve never been rear-ended by anyone (at least in a vehicle). . .
Nice try! I would say something to you but the people who run this site don’t like hostilities!
I have been in a rear end accident that was not my fault. I don’t see what the problem is. I think people go threw life being paranoid!
The real trick to ward off the tailgaters is flashing the hazard lights once. Push the button once so the brake lights come on, and watch the jer**ff slam on his.
That’s good. What I like to do is accelarate and bring the speed up. Then set the cruise control. Wait one minute. Then tap the decel on the cruise One time. To lower your speed 1 MPH. Then tap it again every 10 seconds. It is so subtle they do not get pissed off. Eventually they noticed they need to go around you.
But the real question is why do they (tailgaters) bother you?
Add the Aston Martin “oil ejector” so the tailgater will slide off the road. Bond will be driving a Cadillac in the next movie if the CT6 had this!
Add Supercruise to EVERY GM vehicle, even on base trims as an option, ASAP…
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recognizes six levels of autonomous driving, from Level 0 to Level 5, with 5 being full autonomous in all conditions…GM avoids labeling it a level; as such, the internet has taken over the debate to if Supercruise is even a true level 3; it technically meets the vague definition of level 3 but it can only be used on the highway and will not change lanes so many consider it level 2. Regardless, while owners and reviewers report that when it works it works great, many have reported difficulty with turning on the system in the first place along with the system disengaging itself for an unknown reason (and even refusing to turn back on later)…
GM has spent a lot of resources on Supercruise so you imagine they’re going to tout its strengths but we can’t forget that GM spend one BILLION, yes that’s “B” as in Billion, to acquire Cruise Automation and this past October it acquired the LIDAR startup Strobe as well…Supercruise is “today” and will be around for years, the hope is it continually improves resulting in fewer disengagements…Cruise Automation powered self driving vehicles are “tomorrow”, they’re very expensive and will only go to fleets first with very limited functionality which will slowly evolve over the years…The first “robo taxis” will be most likely will be limited to a single metro and nearby suburbs, will not use highways, will not go high speeds or use challenging roads…Some may only be used on fixed routes which is more of a shuttle service…
Robo taxis will use highways. They will not drive on the sidewalk. Every public road is a highway.
While some people look to the best and brightest in New technology there are people who can’t help themselves in digging into the most gloom and doom part of it!
Some people are never happy unless they are complaining about something. It’s new technology, it’s going to have it’s issues that GM will have to cut it’s teeth on. Just give the system some time.
People are just too impatient they want everything right now!
The irony is you’re complaining about complainers…lol…Back on topic, Supercruise has already been delayed by roughly two years…
The technology is impressive, but Level 3 would not require that the driver constantly monitor it. Super Cruise’s facial monitoring technology is designed to detect when the driver is not looking forward towards the windshield. If the driver were not required to constantly monitor Super Cruise’s driving, then it would be Level 3 (at least for the situations when it was active that way).
When did Canada get an interstate system? When did Canada get states? Did Trump anex Canada last night?
over the air updates??? i thought you needed magic tesla pixie dust for that.
Am I the only one who can’t figure out Cadillac’s ever-changing alphabet soup name strategy. Geez. I knew what a CTS was and an ATS and an XTS. A damn XT5 emblem looks just like an XTS emblem (way to go, rocket scientists), and none of the new alphabet soup makes any sense at all. Did GM so quickly forget the lessons of Pontiac and changing all the cool names into G3, G5, G6, G8.
Start naming the cars with names, duh!