Ushr Inc. Helped GM Expand Super Cruise Coverage Across U.S. & Canada
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In August, GM announced that it will expand its Super Cruise road network by adding hundreds of thousand of miles of compatible roadways, allowing owners of vehicles outfitted with the semi-autonomous driver assist technology to travel on even more North American thoroughfares. More specifically, drivers will be able to take advantage of Super Cruise on roads like U.S. Route 66, CA Route 1 and the Trans-Canada highway. Now, we’ve learned that a key factor in the expansion was the automaker’s partnership with Ushr Inc.
Ushr used LiDAR data along with proprietary algorithms to map more than 400,000 miles of roads, which will be added to GM’s Super Cruise network. Many of these roads are undivided highways, or primary roads, that rely on painted lines to separate travel direction rather than physical barriers. Safe hands-free driving on these roads requires very precise vehicle localization that can be provided by Ushr’s HD mapping efforts.
“Primary roads are far more complex than highways,” said Dr. David K. Johnson, chief scientist at Ushr. “They contain a higher diversity of road objects, density of crossings, pavement types and lane types.”
LiDAR map data is critical for “sensor fusion,” in which feedback from precise map data, real-time cameras, radars and GPS integrate in order to create a sensory field around a Super Cruise-equipped vehicle. This sensory field helps keep the vehicle centered in its lane, allowing its driver to take their hands off the wheel.
As a reminder, Super Cruise utilizes a front-facing camera, a long-range radar, short-range radars behind the vehicle’s front grille and rear bumpers along with an array of 360-degree cameras. A driver attention camera is also mounted in the cabin behind the steering wheel, which monitors the driver’ habits and disengages Super Cruise if detects that the driver is not paying attention. A light bar on the steering wheel indicates the system’s status.
Prior to the updated announced in August, GM added 70,000 miles of roadway to the semi-autonomous Super Cruise system’s memory back in 2019, making it compatible with more than 200,000 miles of divided highway in the United States and Canada.
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So, when does my Super Cruise get updated? Usually it is an over-the-air update, but I haven’t seen anything come across. Also, if its dealership updates, I just had the car in for service.
This technology is dangerous as it encourages distracted driving.
Think I’ll order my next Escalade from China or Saudi Arabia, GM shipping to them faster than the USA, plus they have all the parts on them! Wake up GM, you’re on a slippery slope.
Take your hand off your tool and zip up zipper and drive the vehicle.