Have you ever wanted to take your hands off the wheel and just let your car drive itself? Self-driving technology becomes more of a reality every year and automakers are competing to be the first to develop a fully hands-free system.
Gm, Ford, and Tesla are three of the leading automotive brands in the world. They are at the forefront of EV development and hands-free driving technology. Companies like GM and Ford are playing catch up to Tesla, who have been developing innovations for self-driving and electric vehicles a bit more fervently. Accelerating, braking, and steering are what make a car drive, and developing a car that can do these things autonomously is a massive challenge. Automatic braking systems (ABS) have long been implemented in vehicles, but Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and hands-free driving, are what consumers want to come next.
Who is going to win the race to develop the best hands-free driving system? Will it be Ford and GM, reputable automotive makers? Or will it be Tesla, the hot new company that people have been raving about?
Hands-Free Systems Independent From Each Other
Hand-free technology is uncharted waters, unmapped territory, and brands such as GM, Ford, and Tesla are all trying to be the first. With no industry standards or expectations, this has caused the brands to blaze their own trails, causing their hands-free systems to be equally different from each other and equally unique, but that does not mean they are equally as good.
Also, as of right now, there are no automotive makers who have successfully developed a fully autonomous driving system. Drivers must pay attention to the roads. For now, at least, this is the best course of action.
GM
The GM Super Cruise system has been in development for a long time. When it comes to highway driving, Super Cruise might just be the best system out there. The system has excellent reviews. With automatic lane changing, turning, accelerating, and braking, the Super Cruise is a formidable hands-free system.
The problem right now, though, is the system is not as available as Ford and Tesla’s hands-free systems. That and Super Cruise can only be used on pre-mapped highways in America and Canada. So, if you are on a non-mapped highway, you are out of luck.
Ford
Ford is doing their best to challenge Tesla. The Mach-E Mustang is just one example of how they are trying to break into the EV scene. Ford’s hands-free system is called BlueCruise and is similar to GM’s Super Cruise. Both systems use infrared cameras to make sure drivers are still engaged with the road, and use pre-mapped roads to do hands-free driving. Ask your Ford dealer which models have BlueCruise
Ford’s hands-free driving system has not been in development as long as GM’s Super Cruise, and it shows. The system, BlueCruise, virtually does everything Super Cruise does, but not quite as well. One could argue, though, that Ford has better potential for developing this kind of technological system moving forward. The Mach-E proves this.
Tesla
Tesla is definitely the most ambitious of the three. Every Tesla vehicle comes with an ABAS system built in and their cars, in theory, can drive autonomously on any road, with no need for pre-mapped highways.
Tesla’s system might be the most impressive and versatile, but it definitely has the most problems. Arguably the most dangerous system, the Tesla system seems to have some problems with lane changes, line markers, and construction zones. That said, Tesla is dedicated to improving and fixing their technology.
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