Sign Up for the Design News Webinar Mapping GM’s Path to AutonomySign Up for the Design News Webinar Mapping GM’s Path to Autonomy

Jason Fischer, General Motors’ executive chief engineer for autonomous technology discusses the company’s strategy for safe automation.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

May 31, 2023

2 Min Read
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This Cruise ride-hailing vehicle is thoroughly equipped with sensors that let it see the world reliably.General Motors Co.

General Motors is plotting a cautious route to autonomy, using extra sensors to ensure that driver assistance systems have a reliable view of the world. At the same time, GM’s Cruise subsidiary is delivering autonomous rides for passengers. The company says that this dual path provides the best foundation for advancing autonomous technology.

“GM is the only automaker with a dual path approach to autonomy through today’s and tomorrow’s advanced driver assistance systems, Super Cruise and Ultra Cruise, and autonomous vehicles already on the roads with Cruise,” says Fisher. “The company is focused on the safe deployment of both paths, never sacrificing safety for speed."

During this Design News webinar, Fisher will elaborate on this dual path approach, the immense societal benefits of Avs, and how consumers can feel confident in these technologies.

As executive chief engineer for autonomous technology, Fischer leads the company’s cross-functional engineering teams responsible for GM’s work with Cruise, developing the first purpose-built electric and autonomous vehicle, the Cruise Origin, and future personal autonomous vehicles.

Fischer started his engineering career at GM as a mechanical engineer. Since then, his work at GM has spanned from the United States to Australia and Korea. He has worked with teams to design, develop and integrate ride, handling, steering, and braking performance for multiple global platforms and enhanced vehicle dynamics and performances. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in engineering from Purdue University.

General Motors has promised that Ultra Cruise, the company’s next-generation advanced driver assistance system that is designed to ultimately enable hands-free driving in 95 percent of all driving scenarios, will have a 360-degree view of the vehicle through a comprehensive sensor suite when it launches on the Cadillac Celestiq EV. The company’s Ultra Cruise sensor strategy is directly guided by its philosophy of safely deploying advanced driver assistance (ADAS) technologies.

The Cruise autonomous taxi service, meanwhile, aims to provide a fleet of self-driving vehicles that drives carefully, consistently, and never under the influence, with high vehicle availability during nighttime hours with world-class customer service. These cars incorporate purpose-built nighttime safety features for the pickup, driving, and drop-off experience.

Sign up for the Design News webinar to hear Fischer describe GM’s strategy to combine these two approaches to autonomous vehicle technology.

 

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

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He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

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