Waymo recollects and updates robotaxi software program after two vehicles crashed into the identical towed truck

Waymo is voluntarily 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 blog post, 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 — “is not and has not been interrupted by this update.” 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 reflects how seriously we take our responsibility to safely deploy our technology and to transparently communicate with the public,” Peña wrote.

The recall comes at a time when self-driving vehicles are dealing with intense scrutiny following a sequence of high-profile crashes and controversies — together with one final week the place a Waymo robotaxi struck a cyclist. This previous weekend, a Waymo autonomous automobile was vandalized and burned by a crowd of people in San Francisco. Rival operator Cruise, in the meantime, has suspended its operations because it deals with the fallout of a crash from final October. It employed its first chief safety officer this week.

The crashes that prompted the recall each occurred on December 11. Peña wrote that one among Waymo’s automobiles stumbled on a backward-facing pickup truck being “improperly towed.” The truck was “persistently angled across a center turn lane and a traffic lane.” Peña mentioned the robotaxi “incorrectly predicted the future motion of the towed vehicle” due to this mismatch between the orientation of the tow truck and the pickup, and made contact. The corporate informed TechCrunch this brought on minor harm to the entrance left bumper.

The tow truck didn’t cease, although, in line with Peña, and only a few minutes later one other Waymo robotaxi made contact with the identical pickup truck being towed. The corporate informed TechCrunch this brought on 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 informed the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration about them on December 15. The corporate and NHTSA workers have had “four subsequent conversations” concerning the crashes, earlier than Waymo determined to voluntarily recall the software program that was in use on the time.

The recall might enhance public strain on Waymo, as cities, residents and authorities companies are scrutinizing the promise of autonomous automobile fleets. Robotaxis are already facing 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 Trade Fee, amongst others, are probing Cruise’s handling of its October crash.