GM Patents Automatic Drag Strip Launch Control
General Motors has received a patent for a system that uses on-board cameras to read a drag strip's Christmas Tree and time launches automatically.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Performance Vehicles
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U.S. Patent 12,780,203, titled "Methods and Systems for Coordinating Launch Control for Vehicles for Racing," was granted to General Motors on November 3, 2026. The system identifies the Christmas Tree with on-board cameras, prompts the driver to activate launch control, and maintains braking and staging automatically after the driver releases the pedals.
Why it matters
The system compares the sequence of yellow lights against stored timing patterns to calculate when green will appear, accounting for differences between Pro Tree and Sportsman Tree sequences. Automating that timing addresses a delay that can decide drag launch results.
The Pro Tree's final amber to green gap is 0.4 seconds, while Sportsman Tree amber lights are spaced a half-second apart. A tenth of a second in timing can change drag launch outcomes.
The players
General Motors
General Motors is a Detroit-based automaker that sells vehicles under brands including Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac.
The details
The patent describes a system in which the vehicle's cameras recognize the Christmas Tree and notify the driver, who then places both feet on the pedals. Once the automatic launch system takes over, the driver can remove both feet while the system maintains braking pressure and staging torque, and it calculates the delay between commanding movement and actual forward motion.
Timeline
January 2025: Patent application originally filed.
July 2026: Patent application published.
November 3, 2026: Patent granted.
Roadmap
Production launch control systems have traditionally required the driver to time the throttle against the signal lights manually. GM's camera-based approach would move that timing into the vehicle itself, extending existing launch control logic.
If the system reaches production, drivers could rely on automated launch timing instead of reacting to the Christmas Tree by hand. The patent alone does not change what is available at dealerships today.
The takeaway
Automated launch control would shift part of drag racing's reaction-time skill into the vehicle's software. Whether that reaches showroom cars depends on future development beyond this patent.
Further reading
Explore more on Performance Vehicles for context on how launch technology is evolving.
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