Memphis is a metro area that is big on tradition. From “Memphis in May” to the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, there are many events here that have created solid roots within the community, and an enormous sense of pride among residents. From days a few decades ago when you could pull in and tell the attendant to “fill her up” with unleaded, one can really look at the current climate and marvel at just how things have changed. There are many companies out there that are offering self-driving cars, but within the past few weeks, Chevy made some noticeable advancements in this territory uncharted by some.
Many companies have been attempting to develop self-driving cars, but the majority of them tend to focus on the sensors and software needed to perform the job, and the car itself loses a bit of appeal in the end result of the formula. GM's Cruise Automation subsidiary has been working hard to perfect and implement the software needed for the job, and lately has finally had more time to shift their attention to the vehicles that will use it. The Chevy-backed entity just announced that a third-generation prototype is ready for mass production, in the form of the already well-known Chevy Bolt.
The biggest differences in the third-generation model were highlighted by Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt in a Medium post: there are now enough safety features and redundancies that the developers feel it could operate at full capacity without a driver. The first Bolt autonomous prototypes were being mulled over just before GM bought Cruise last year, and at that time they had begun being tested on public roads. Things then began moving at a breakneck pace, as they do in many instances regarding the current auto market! Earlier this year, the second-generation prototype was unveiled, and there was a much greater integration between the autonomous driving hardware and the stock components present in the Bolt.
The biggest difference between the second and third generations was the addition of redundancy and safety systems that really solidify the ability to complete fully driver-less operation. The electrical architecture is now much different than one would find on a stock Bolt, and closely resembles that of a commercial airplane, or even a modern spacecraft. The biggest buzz right here at Chuck Hutton has been regarding the potential for mass-production: now that the 3rd prototype seems to be fully-fledged, Cruise and GM could theoretically manufacture as many as thousands of models if needed. GM is ahead of the game at this point: Ford is planning to launch their own self-driving cars, but have not completed designs that are production-ready.
Tech companies Uber and Lyft are in the process of system development, but still need to work through some red tape with automaker partners to place the technology in cars. Some of the groundwork for the future that is left is simply regarding what happens when a self-driving car is mass produced: who will confirm that it is safe to hit the road on a daily basis? This is an exciting time to be alive, and to be watching the auto industry, period. We are proud to provide and service the brand that is making the most giant leap forward to the future, and that appears to for now be the front-leading contender in the driver-less auto race!
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