GM on Track To Begin Selling Self-Driving Cars

Automobiles revolutionized the way we live our daily lives when they first appeared back in the early 20th century; now another revolution in the world of cars may be under way which will again change how we understand automobiles and how we employ them.

Technology has evolved to such a high degree that General Motors has announced it’s on track to begin selling self-driving cars. What would have at one time only been a subject of fascination to be found in science fiction may soon become a reality.

GM is working on implementing self-driving technology in their Cadillac SRX SUV. GM has been developing this autonomous driving technology for a few years now, the latest progress occurring at Carnegie Mellon University under the leadership of Raj Rajkumar. Rajkumar and his team recently equipped a 2011 Cadillac SRX with a series of different sensors and radars that will allow for automated driving and other benefits. The new devices are reported to be less expensive than previous technologies, making them more suitable for general production.

While this is certainly a great leap in the world of driving technology, the primary motive behind the research and experiments at Carnegie Mellon University has been aimed at increasing driving safety and accident reduction. In other words, this technology is not going to allow for there to be no driver behind the wheel, and the driver will still need to be in control by paying attention to the road. That said, the autonomous drive technology will allow vehicles to self-control speed, steering, braking, and avoid whatever obstacles may be in the road, such as traffic cones or pedestrians. This technology will also be able to communicate with traffic lights and other cars outfitted with wireless communication devices to allow for cooperation between vehicles. Audible collision alerts or other means of informing the driver of driving conditions will also be an upcoming feature.

Rajkumar believes that this technology will likely be commercially available by the year 2020, but a gradual implementation of these systems before that date is probable. As Rajkumar related, “By 2018, you should be able to drive on the highway and the car will handle steering, speed and lane control. By 2020, your car will do lane changes and we’ll see more features to handle stop-and-go traffic in urban areas. Ten years from now, cars will be communicating with street lights and other vehicles to help with traffic flow.”

If this autonomous drive technology can be used to prevent accidents and collisions, thereby preventing fatalities which are still high in number, drivers everywhere should be thankful for the research and development in this field and look forward to their eventual widespread dissemination.