GM’s AI Comes for Drag Racers With a Camera-Guided Launch System

How the system would work

Some cars already use launch control to balance power and traction for a quick start. The proposed system would add cameras and programming to recognize the lights on a drag strip’s Christmas tree.

A prompt would tell the driver to engage launch control by pressing the gas and brake pedals together. Once the system is active, the driver would lift their feet while the car watches the lights and manages the start. Rather than waiting until green, the system would begin the launch process beforehand so the car moves at the right moment without starting too early or triggering a red light.

The skill behind a launch

Automating the start could make launches more precise, but drag racing still demands skill: drivers must reduce reaction time and execute a strong start. Removing that task leaves less for the driver to control in a production car. The article distinguishes Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars from production cars, noting that they are a different story.

A wider debate over racing

The author argues that automated racing risks turning competition into a test of technology rather than driver ability. The concern extends beyond drag racing to autonomous racing in general.

The article points to complaints that Formula 1 is boring despite the extraordinary talent required to race at those speeds. It says reliable, closely matched cars can leave little difference between competitors, and suggests that racing without drivers would be less compelling.

Why imperfection matters

The author says the pursuit of improvement matters more than achieving a perfect lap. That effort, rather than perfection itself, is described as rewarding and part of being human. For that reason, the author would leave GM’s launch control switched off and start the car manually, accepting a slower time than an automated system might achieve.