GM launches supervised on-road trials of next-generation automated driving technology

GM has initiated the supervised testing of its next-generation automated tech on limited-access highways across California and Michigan. the American brand has detailed how soon more than 20 manual and supervised development vehicles will operate in live traffic environments. Each vehicle will have a trained test driver at the wheel who is capable of taking manual control at any time it seems necessary.

The all new Eyes of the Driving Tech

GM had earlier announced the launch of an eyes-off self-driving system in its domain. The system will not require continuous driver vigilance for safety. The new addition will start with the Cadillac Escalade IQ, and will be followed by additional GM and electric vehicles.  launches are expected to work on highways first and then driveway-to-driveway.

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These new features will be supported by a new computing architecture that has been developed by consolidating information from dozens of different distributed modules. The eyes-off capability will be offered on high-end premium Cadillacs to mainstream Chevys and everything in between. Real-world testing is essential for such a system to function properly.

Data captured during this phase will feed directly back into GM’s development cycle, improving the AI driving model and overall system robustness. To complement real-world data, GM’s simulation environment enables engineers to simulate roughly 100 years of human driving.

Past Mishaps Mar Autonomous Technology Development

A slew of past mishaps while testing autonomous technology have led manufacturers to be extremely cautious about autopilot systems. A myriad of mishaps have marred the developments, making them synonymous with tragic accidents. On June 30, 2016, Joshua Brown was killed driving a Tesla Model S; the car, which was using a computer-based vehicle detection system, crashed into an 18-wheeler truck in Florida. On February 14, 2016, an autonomously driven Google Lexus pulled to the right for a turn, ramming itself into the side of a bus in Mountain View, California.

The crash impacted the car’s radar and flattened its tyres. While the employee sitting inside was unharmed, the vehicle had to be towed away. Volvo, which has been synonymous with making the safest cars in the world, had to wallow in shame when its pedestrian-detecting system failed and a Volvo accelerated towards a group of people, knocking them off their feet. Volvo stated that the accident happened due to the owner’s neglect to pay for pedestrian detection, functionality that costs extra.