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Lucid Motors is preparing to release a software update on July 30 that will allow for hands-free highway driving on its Air sedans, marking a significant advancement for the company’s advanced driver assistance system.
### Advancements in Hands-Free Driving
The introduction of this update will place Lucid Motors among a select group of companies offering hands-free driving capabilities in the United States. Similar systems are available from Ford with BlueCruise, General Motors with Super Cruise, and Mercedes-Benz with Drive Pilot. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) can also be used hands-free under specific conditions in vehicles equipped with an in-cabin camera.
### System Availability and Requirements
Initially, the hands-free update will only be available for the Air sedans, with plans to extend the update to owners of the new Gravity SUV later in the year. This feature is exclusive to customers who have purchased an Air model equipped with the $2,500 “Dream Drive Pro” package, which includes a comprehensive suite of 32 sensors such as lidar, radar, cameras, and ultrasonics.
### Usage Conditions and Safety Measures
Drivers utilizing the hands-free system must maintain focus on the road ahead and remain prepared to take control of the vehicle if necessary, in line with other driver assistance systems. Lucid has incorporated an infrared camera-based system in the car to monitor driver attentiveness. Additionally, the hands-free system can only be used on pre-mapped divided highways that are deemed “compatible” for this feature.
Lucid Motors’ introduction of hands-free highway driving represents a significant leap forward in automotive technology, offering customers a taste of the future of autonomous driving.
