Waymo LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has voluntarily recalled 672 self-driving vehicles equipped with its 5th Generation Automated Driving System (ADS) after a collision incident in Phoenix, Arizona.
The recall, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aims to address a software and mapping issue that led to the collision.
Incident Overview
On May 21, 2024, a Waymo autonomous vehicle collided with a wooden utility pole while executing a low-speed pullover maneuver in an alleyway in Phoenix. Fortunately, the vehicle was unoccupied, and no injuries were reported.
Defect Description
Waymo identified a defect in its ADS, revealing the system’s inability to avoid pole-like objects within the drivable surface. The issue was due to several factors:
- The object’s position within the road boundaries and the absence of a hard road edge on the map.
- The ADS’s perception system assigned a low damage score to the object.
- The object was within the ADS’s intended path, especially during maneuvers like pulling over.
- No other objects nearby triggered the ADS to react and avoid the pole.
Safety Risk
The inability to avoid such objects increased the risk of collisions, prompting the recall. Waymo’s Field Safety Committee began analyzing the incident immediately to develop mitigations.
Remedy and Updates
Waymo implemented a two-fold remedy:
- Software Update: From May 29 to June 3, 2024, Waymo updated the ADS software in all affected vehicles to improve the system’s response to pole-like objects.
- Mapping Update: Maps were updated between May 21 and June 4, 2024, to include hard road edges near such objects. By June 6, 2024, all affected vehicles operated with the updated software and maps.
Regulatory and Public Response
The NHTSA opened an investigation into Waymo’s robotaxis in May 2024 after receiving 22 reports of unexpected driving behavior, including 17 collisions.
The investigation is part of a broader scrutiny of self-driving vehicle performance, with previous probes targeting General Motors’ Cruise and Amazon’s Zoox.
Waymo’s recall follows another in February 2024, where 444 vehicles were recalled due to a software error that caused the ADS to misjudge the movement of a towed vehicle, leading to two minor collisions in Phoenix.
Waymo maintains a strong safety record despite these incidents, having driven tens of millions of autonomous miles. The company continues to expand its robotaxi services, recently extending its service area in Phoenix to cover 315 square miles.
Company Statement
Waymo spokesperson Katherine Barna emphasized the company’s commitment to safety and transparency: “Following an event on May 21 in Phoenix, we have chosen to file a voluntary software recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to address a mapping and software issue. We have already deployed mapping and software updates across our entire fleet, and this does not impact our current operations.”
Evoltronic View
The recall of 672 Waymo self-driving vehicles highlights the industry’s ongoing challenges and regulatory scrutiny. As Waymo continues to innovate and expand its services, ensuring the safety and reliability of its technology remains paramount.
