With out fanfare, Stellantis entered the Degree 2 hands-free driver-assist system sport late in 2023.

Stellantis’ system is called Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help, and it launched with the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee. 

Motor Authority has unearthed some insights into how the system works and its {hardware}, however we’re left with some questions that at present haven’t any solutions. 

Beneath, we break down what we learn about Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help to this point, what has but to be shared, and a few key similarities and variations between it and Ford’s BlueCruise and GM’s Tremendous Cruise programs.

Stellantis Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help system

What’s Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help?

Confusingly, Stellantis provides an Energetic Driving Help system and a Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help system. The previous is a flowery time period for Stellantis’ lively lane management, also referred to as lane-keeping help, which requires fingers on the wheel always. This method can be utilized on any street with seen lane markings. 

Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help is Stellantis’ new system, and it allows hands-free driving, however solely on mapped roads.

Making issues extra complicated, Jeep’s web site swaps the 2 phrases in sure locations, however Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help is extra concerned and has higher capabilities.

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Which automobiles supply Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help?

At present, the Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help system is an possibility on the two-row 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and three-row Grand Cherokee L in Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims. Patrons might want to go for the three.6-liter V-6 because the system can’t be optioned with the 4xe plug-in hybrid or V-8.

The 2025 Ram 1500 pickup truck would be the subsequent mannequin to supply the Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help system.

How a lot does Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help value?

For the Grand Cherokees, the package deal prices $2,995, which features a 3-year trial. The package deal hasn’t been priced for the 2025 Ram 1500 but, however it’ll additionally include a 3-year trial. 

A Stellantis spokesperson informed Motor Authority after the 3-year trial interval is over house owners will be capable of get it by subscription, however pricing isn’t but out there.

BlueCruise-equipped automobiles include a 90-day trial. Patrons then can choose to pay $75 per thirty days or $800 per yr to proceed utilizing the hands-free system. GM’s Tremendous Cruise system prices $2,200-$2,500, relying on the automobile, and features a 3-year trial. A $25 per thirty days Tremendous Cruise OnStar subscription is required to maintain the system working after the trial.

Stellantis Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help system

The place does Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help work?

The system works on sure limited-access (no open cross streets) divided highways with map knowledge offered from TomTom. GM’s map knowledge is offered by Dynamic Map Platform (DMP) whereas Ford’s map knowledge is offered by HERE. 

Stellantis hasn’t outlined if the map knowledge is radar-based, like Ford’s, or lidar-based, like GM’s. The previous is much less detailed, whereas the latter is extra detailed. It’s additionally at present unclear how the map knowledge is fed to the automobile. Ford’s BlueCruise retains your entire map knowledge native always and over-the-air updates feed the system new information now and again. GM’s Tremendous Cruise system retains minimal map knowledge regionally and feeds the map knowledge in actual time because the automobile drives down the street. 

A Stellantis spokesperson wouldn’t share what number of miles of map knowledge at present exists, however Jeep’s web site touts “over 125,000 miles of appropriate roads.” GM’s system will work on about 750,000 miles of roads by the top of 2025. Ford’s system has over 130,000 miles of mapped roads.

Stellantis additionally hasn’t shared which roads are mapped.

Stellantis Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help system

How do you activate Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help?

When on a street with map knowledge, a mobile connection, and lane markings that may be seen by the automobile’s cameras, the system will be turned on by tapping the Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help button on the fitting spoke of the steering wheel. 

When activated, the icons within the digital gauge cluster flip inexperienced, the ambient lighting on the edges of the digital gauge cluster flip inexperienced, and inexperienced graphics seem on the out there head-up show.

Stellantis Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help system

What {hardware} does Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help use?

Stellantis hasn’t outlined what {hardware} the system makes use of, nevertheless it’s clear it makes use of the automobile’s radar system (unknown if it’s short- or long-range), forward-facing digital camera, and blind-spot displays. 

The Stellantis spokesperson mentioned the system has “redundancies in sensing and computing” however wouldn’t elaborate. GM’s system has a number of redundancies in place, together with an excellent capacitor in case the 12-volt system experiences a problem. Ford lacks many of those redundancies and views the driving force because the backup system.

The Stellantis spokesperson confirmed the system doesn’t embody lidar {hardware} (neither GM’s Tremendous Cruise nor Ford’s BlueCruise system have lidar both). Nevertheless, the spokesperson confirmed Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help does have an HD GPS receiver like GM’s system. This can be a key part Ford’s system lacks. 

A conventional GPS receiver locations a automobile on a street, not a particular lane, and is correct to inside 49.2 toes. In accordance with Common Motors, an HD GPS receiver locations a automobile inside 6.6 toes. It means the system is aware of which lane the automobile is in. Ford makes an attempt to get round this by stitching collectively a real-time view for the automobile utilizing the onboard sensors and cameras. 

Stellantis equips automobiles with Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help with an infrared digital camera mounted atop the steering column to observe the driving force’s eyes.

Stellantis Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help system

What does Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help do if the driving force doesn’t concentrate?

If the system detects the driving force isn’t watching the street, a collection of warnings will seem within the digital gauge cluster beginning with inexperienced, then escalating to yellow, and at last turning crimson. Ought to the driving force not react, the system will decelerate the automobile and finally carry out a managed cease in its lane. The automobile will then provoke an SOS name for assist utilizing the automobile’s mobile connection. Stellantis hasn’t mentioned how lengthy the driving force can go with out paying consideration. Ford’s system gives a really quick leash of simply 4 seconds. GM’s system was once about the identical, nevertheless it appears the automaker has lengthened the leash to about 10 seconds with current updates based mostly on our expertise.

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Are you able to velocity with Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help?

Completely. The system works at as much as 90 mph. GM’s system works at speeds of as much as 85 mph, whereas Ford’s faucets out at 80 mph. 

Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve 4×4

Are you able to tow with Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help?

No. Whereas GM’s system has trailering capabilities, Ford BlueCruise is unable to function whereas towing, both.

Stellantis Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help system

Can Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help change lanes?

Sure. Like Ford’s system, the driving force should provoke the lane change by tapping the flip sign stalk. The system will deem if a lane change is protected after which execute it. GM’s system will robotically execute a lane change to move slower transferring site visitors, and it’ll then transfer again to the fitting to take care of lane etiquette. 

Will Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help transfer over within the lane?

Sure. Like Ford and GM’s system, Stellantis programmed Arms-Free Energetic Driving Help to maneuver the automobile off its heart place in a lane when passing slower site visitors. This gives respiration room between the 2 automobiles.