General Motors has something more cooking with regards to the Super Cruise semi self-driving system. On September 20, the automaker filed to trademark “Ultra Cruise.”
It’s clear the Ultra Cruise names expands upon the current Super Cruise name and its capabilities, but our question is how will it compare? Will Ultra Cruise be more or less capable than today’s Super Cruise system?
It’s perhaps best to understand what Super Cruise, GM’s first semi self-driving system first introduced for Cadillac, does. Super Cruise uses cameras and other sensors to automatically steer and brake during highway driving. The technology is capable of full-speed-range adaptive cruise control and lane centering. What Super Cruise does not do is control the car for every waking moment behind the wheel.
Super Cruise only engages on diligently mapped U.S. highways and Interstates. The system also works on major Canadian freeways. The semi self-driving system also requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road and pay attention at all times. However, unlike competitor systems, Super Cruise doesn’t require drivers to “check in” by touching the steering wheel.
Instead, a camera monitors eye and head movement. If the camera detects a driver hasn’t been paying attention, visual and audible alerts will display sound and the seat will vibrate. Should the driver remain unresponsive, Super Cruise can pull the vehicle onto the shoulder and call OnStar for help.
Whether Ultra Cruise builds upon Super Cruise or becomes a lesser version of the technology is so far unclear. We know every Cadillac will begin receiving Super Cruise in 2020 and GM plans to expand the technology to its other brands in the U.S., including Chevrolet, Buick and GMC. Ultra Cruise could be the name for another brand’s version of the system with identical technology.
But, for now, we don’t know what will become of the name. Automakers regularly file trademarks to protect things, but we have a feeling we’ll see the Ultra Cruise name in the near future.
Comments
I think the term AutoDrive would be much better! I will admit to stealing that one from Demolition Man however!
Will cars with the current Super Cruise be upgradable to the new system?
Probably not as there is likely more sensors and cameras that would need to be retrofitted to older systems.
GM Cruise has already presented a level 5 autonomous car, so the capabilities of Cruise technology go much further than what is currently being commercialised.
The Cadillac Super Cruise system is limited to highways, and only works under specific circumstances. I guess they first wanted to check the system in a real-world environment, while limiting potential accountability in case of an accident.
When Cruise Control was first introduced in the 1950s, the system would simply buzz when going over a pre-set speed; later, the system would automatically hold a pre-set speed; and much later the system would also take into account the distance with the car in front. We’ll probably see a similar expansion of capabilities with this Super Cruise system.
So I guess Ultra Cruise will expand on the capabilities of Super Cruise, e.g. by also allowing driving on secondary roads, or by allowing to pass a car without having to manually intervene, or by working together with CUE navigation (the systems today are not linked), or any combination of these examples.
In addition, giving the choice between Super Cruise and Ultra Cruise, will allow GM to increase prices of the Ultra version as compared to the Super version.
Not so long ago, a GM engineer being interviewed by Autoline Network indicated “they are continuously working on the system to expand its capabilities”. Giving Cadillac an Ultra version, would also set the door open for the Super version being used by other GM brands.
Well reasoned. If GM had crashes in the ilk of Tesla, the personal injury attorney’s would be camping in front of the RenCen. GM, has to take the careful, prudent path to this technology and make sure it’s right before offering the next levels of autonomy.