Cadillac CELESTIQ Debuts With Hands-Free Driving Possible in Most Conditions Early in 2024. Caveats Apply

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General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced today that Ultra Cruise¹, the company’s next-generation advanced driver assistance system² designed to enable hands-free driving in 95% of all driving scenarios, will have a 360-degree view of the vehicle through a unique sensor suite when it launches on the limited edition ~$300,000 Cadillac CELESTIQ ³  flagship in early 2024. There are, of course, many technical, regulatory and insurance issues the need to be resolved before full deployment is underway.

The destination-to-destination hands-free system will use a variety of cameras, short- and long-range radars, LiDAR behind the windshield, an all-new computing system and a driver attention system to monitor the driver’s head position and/or eyes in relation to the road to help ensure driver attention. These systems work together through what GM calls “sensor fusion” to provide Ultra Cruise with a 360-degree, three-dimensional representation of the vehicle’s surroundings.

“GM’s fundamental strategy for all ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Technology) features, including Ultra Cruise, is safely deploying these technologies,” said Jason Ditman, GM chief engineer, Ultra Cruise. “A deep knowledge of what Ultra Cruise is capable of, along with the detailed picture provided by its sensors, will help us understand when Ultra Cruise can be engaged and when to hand control back to the driver. We believe consistent, clear operation can help build drivers’ confidence in Ultra Cruise.”

There is a caveat: While GM expects that customers will be able to travel truly hands-free with Ultra Cruise across nearly every paved public road in the U.S. and Canada, including city streets, sub-division streets and rural roads, in addition to highways – this will happen over an unspecified period of time. Vehicles equipped with Ultra Cruise hardware will receive incremental enhancements through over-the-air software updates. GM is focused on expanding ADAS accessibility with the combination of currently available Super Cruise⁴ driver assistance technology and eventually, Ultra Cruise, bringing these technologies to more customers on more vehicles, in more regions at more price points.

How Ultra Cruise Works

GM is developing Ultra Cruise software in-house with a team of software engineers around the world. The company also works with suppliers integrating their sensing technologies with its software.

• Driver attention system: This small camera, located on the top of the steering column, uses infrared light to help monitor the driver’s head position and/or eyes in relation to the road to help ensure driver attention. In other words you will be monitored.
• Compute platform: This is the physical hardware that make possible Ultra Cruise. The system will be powered by a scalable compute architecture featuring system-on-chips (SoCs) developed by American semiconductor company Qualcomm Technologies.
• Long-range cameras: These seven, eight-megapixel cameras are located on the front, corners, back and sides of the vehicle, providing expanded fields of view for Ultra Cruise. They help the system to detect objects such as traffic signs, traffic lights, other vehicles and pedestrians.
• Short-range radars: Placed on the four corners of the vehicle, these radars are used to help sense a radius of up to 90 meters, such as pedestrians crossing the street or vehicles in surrounding lanes.
• Long-range radars: The three 4D long-range radars on the front and back of the vehicle allow for Adaptive Cruise Control speeds and lane change maneuvers at highway speeds by helping to detect an object’s location, direction and elevation relative to the speed of the vehicle. They also help the system determine safe stopping distances.
• LiDAR: The LiDAR, located behind the windshield, helps produce an accurate three-dimensional view of the scene, enabling more precise detection of objects and road features such as vehicles and lane markings, even in inclement weather conditions. Combined with other sensors, it can help create a robust perception of the environment around the vehicle for Ultra Cruise, increasing the system’s functional domain and performance.

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Inevitable Ultra Cruise Footnotes

1. Ultra Cruise Advanced Driver Assistance Technology functionality is currently in pre-production and subject to change. Capability will evolve over time by way of over-the-air updates once functionality becomes available. More details about Ultra Cruise will be available closer to launch. Terms and conditions will apply.
2. Safety or driver-assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The driver should remain attentive to traffic, surroundings and road conditions at all times. Visibility, weather and road conditions may affect feature performance. Read the vehicle Owner’s Manual for more important feature limitations and information.
3. Available by inquiry only. See Cadillac.com for details.
4. Always pay attention while driving and when using Super Cruise. Do not use a hand-held device. Requires active Super Cruise plan or trial. Terms apply. Visit cadillacsupercruise.com, chevysupercruise.com, or gmc.com/connectivity-technology/super-cruise for compatible roads and full details. Automatic Lane Change and Lane Change on Demand are not available while trailering.