For many auto enthusiasts in Knoxville and the state of Tennessee, self-driving cars may not be what they picture in their version of the ideal future. It is always so much fun to, get behind the wheel after a long day, blast rapidly out of whatever location ails you, and hit the open road. For years in cartoons and motion pictures, the future of self-driving cars was predicted, but in decades such as the 1970's, no one quite knew exactly when the technology would be perfected and ready to roll out. Many companies are right now developing self-driving cars, but the focus until now has been heavy on the software and sensors needed, and not on the cars themselves.
GM's Cruise Automation Subsidiary has been working on the software for quite some time now, and is currently shifting their attention to the quality of the car itself. They just unveiled the 3rd-generation autonomous prototype, and claim that it is 100% ready to go as far as the assembly line. The guided-by-tech auto in question is the Chevy Bolt, and the new version was claimed by Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt to have sufficient redundancy and safety features that would allow it to operate fully unmanned. The first Bolt autonomous prototype was built just a year ago, and was strenuously tested on public roads. Just one year later, the second prototype was unveiled, and it featured greater integration between the software and hardware needed to deem the vehicle operational.
The major difference between the second and third generations are intensive labor and research regarding the technology that the car relies on to drive. The electrical makeup is now much different than a regular stock Bolt's, and resembles that of a spacecraft or airplane. The biggest thrill to everyone watching the future of self-driven cars is the fact that these can still be built on the same Michigan assembly line as others, and so the potential for high mass-production is right at the fingertips of many anxious GM folks. Some on our staff here at West Chevy remember the TV show “Knight Rider”, during which the hyper-intelligent car named “Kitt” was able to navigate the journey without any help from the driver, and he would even fall asleep sometimes during longer hauls!
As far as what other companies are doing to up the ante and deliver their own versions of self-driven cars, Ford is planning to launch their own division, but has not completed the designs that are completely ready for production yet. Well-recognized ride hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft are working overtime to develop the systems, but need to coordinate with automaker partners to find a way to get them in cars efficiently.
It's also easy to wonder what type of regulations will be in place once self-driving cars get on the road: what combination of federal and state agencies will see to safety and structure of rule classifications? The days to come will be incredibly interesting to watch unfold, and we are proud to stand behind the brand that is leading the pack in advancements!
No comments:
Post a Comment