General
Motors has announced that by 2016, some of its Cadillacs will incorporate
self-driving functions.
Vehicle-to-vehicle
communication and a cruise function will be fitted in different
top-of-the-range GM models.
It
will be the first time that automated technology is made available at higher
speeds.
The
2017 Cadillac CTS sedan, which will go on sale in 2016, will have the necessary
transmitters and receivers fitted as standard.
The
equipment will let it know the location and speed of other vehicles, as long as
they are also fitted with the technology.
A
different model, as yet undisclosed, will offer a "Super Cruise"
function, which keeps the vehicle in the centre of the lane, maintains speeds
on the motorway and
controls braking.
That
could mean keeping to the speed limit, but would also allow the car to take
control in stop-go traffic jams.
Hands-free
"If
the mood strikes you on the high-speed road from Barstow, California to Las
Vegas, you can take a break from the wheel and pedals and let the car do the
work," said GM's chief executive, Mary Barra.
Automated
driving is expected to ease congestion and reduce accidents, though drivers
will still be expected to pay full attention to the road, rather than shifting
their focus to reading the paper or applying make-up.
GM
said it was also working on a system to monitor drivers to ensure they are
paying adequate attention.
"I'm
convinced customers will embrace [vehicle-to-vehicle] and automated driving
technologies for one simple reason: they are the answer to everyday problems
that people want solved," said Ms Barra.
Other
companies are expected to make similar announcements about automated driving
technology throughout the week at the Intelligent Transportation Society World
Congress in Detroit, where GM made its plans public.
Mercedes-Benz
already offers a system that allows cruising at low speeds. Google is working
to develop fully automated self-driving cars.
BBC
Business
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