August 29, 2013
Tom Krisher

Sometime before the end of this decade, General Motors will put a car on the road that can almost drive itself.

The automaker says the system, called "Super Cruise," uses radar and cameras to steer the car and keep it between lane lines. Also, the radar keeps the car a safe distance from cars ahead of it, and it will brake to a complete stop if necessary.

GM and other automakers such as Mercedes, BMW and Lexus already offer radar-guided cruise control systems that keep their cars a safe distance from other vehicles and even stop before a crash. They also have systems that warn the driver if they're drifting out of their lane. But until recently, engineers haven't been able to steer with computers, according to GM.

"The steering control is the big additional piece," said John Capp, GM's director of electrical controls and active safety technology.

Source
StarTribune Business