Waymo is recalling the software program that powers its robotaxi fleet after two automobiles crashed into the identical towed pickup truck in Phoenix, Arizona, in December. It’s the corporate’s first recall.
Waymo chief security officer Mauricio Peña described the crashes as “minor” in a weblog submit, and mentioned neither automobile was carrying passengers on the time. There have been no accidents. He additionally mentioned Waymo’s ride-hailing service — which is reside in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin — “isn’t and has not been interrupted by this replace.” The corporate declined to share video of the crashes with TechCrunch.
Waymo mentioned it developed, examined, and validated a repair to the software program that it began deploying to its fleet on December 20. All of its robotaxis obtained that software program replace by January 12.
“This voluntary recall displays how critically we take our accountability to securely deploy our expertise and to transparently talk with the general public,” Peña wrote.
The recall comes at a time when self-driving automobiles are going through intense scrutiny following a sequence of high-profile crashes and controversies — together with one final week the place a Waymo robotaxi struck a bicycle owner. This previous weekend, a Waymo autonomous automobile was vandalized and burned by a crowd of individuals in San Francisco. Rival operator Cruise, in the meantime, has suspended its operations because it offers with the fallout of a crash from final October. It employed its first chief security officer this week.
The crashes that prompted the recall each occurred on December 11. Peña wrote that one in all Waymo’s automobiles came across a backward-facing pickup truck being “improperly towed.” The truck was “persistently angled throughout a middle flip lane and a site visitors lane.” Peña mentioned the robotaxi “incorrectly predicted the long run movement of the towed automobile” due to this mismatch between the orientation of the tow truck and the pickup, and made contact. The corporate instructed TechCrunch this precipitated minor harm to the entrance left bumper.
The tow truck didn’t cease, although, in response to Peña, and only a few minutes later one other Waymo robotaxi made contact with the identical pickup truck being towed. The corporate instructed TechCrunch this precipitated minor harm to the entrance left bumper and a sensor. (The tow truck stopped after the second crash.)
Waymo mentioned it contacted the Phoenix Police Division and the Arizona Division of Public Security on the day of the crashes, and instructed the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration about them on December 15. The corporate and NHTSA employees have had “4 subsequent conversations” in regards to the crashes, earlier than Waymo determined to voluntarily recall the software program that was in use on the time.
The recall will might improve public stress on Waymo, as cities, residents and authorities businesses are scrutinizing the promise of autonomous automobile fleets. Robotaxis are already going through pushback in Los Angeles, together with from the Teamsters union. The California Division of Motor Autos is already investigating Waymo’s aforementioned crash with a bicycle owner. And the Division of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Alternate Fee, amongst others, are probing Cruise’s dealing with of its October crash.