Federal security regulators have found 9 extra incidents that increase questions concerning the security of Waymo’s self-driving automobiles working in Phoenix and San Francisco.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration Workplace of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation earlier this month into Waymo’s autonomous automobile software program after receiving 22 reviews of robotaxis making sudden strikes that led to crashes and doubtlessly violated site visitors security legal guidelines. The investigation, which has been designated a “preliminary analysis,” is inspecting the software program and its capacity to keep away from collisions with stationary objects and the way effectively it detects and responds to “site visitors security management units” like cones.
The company mentioned Friday it has added another nine incidents because the investigation was opened. Waymo couldn’t be reached for remark; TheTrendyType will replace the article if the Alphabet-owned firm responds.
Waymo reported a few of these incidents. The others have been found by regulators through public postings on social media and boards like Reddit, YouTube and X. The extra 9 incidents embody reviews of Waymo robotaxis colliding with gates, utility poles, and parked automobiles, driving within the fallacious lane with close by oncoming site visitors and into building zones.
The ODI mentioned it’s involved the robotaxis “exhibiting such sudden driving behaviors could improve the chance of crash, property harm, and harm.” The company mentioned that whereas it’s not conscious of any accidents from these incidents, a number of concerned collisions with seen objects that “a reliable driver could be anticipated to keep away from.” The company additionally expressed concern that a few of these occurred close to pedestrians.
NHTSA has given Waymo till June 11 to reply to a sequence of questions relating to the investigation.
NHTSA has stepped up its inquiries into automated driving expertise. Earlier this month, the company opened an investigation into autonomous automobiles operated by Amazon-backed Zoox. The investigation was triggered after receiving two reviews of the corporate’s autonomous-equipped Toyota Highlanders being rear-ended by bikes after the SUVs unexpectedly triggered the brakes.
