Alphabet’s Waymo mentioned Thursday it might recall 672 of its self-driving automobiles after considered one of its driverless automobiles struck a picket utility pole in Phoenix, Arizona in Could.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration regulator opened an investigation in Could after 22 stories of Waymo’s robotaxis exhibiting driving conduct that doubtlessly violated visitors security legal guidelines, or demonstrating different “surprising conduct,” together with 17 collisions.
Waymo mentioned the Could Arizona collision occurred in an alleyway whereas executing a low-speed pullover maneuver. It mentioned there have been no passengers, different highway customers, or accidents associated to the collision however there was injury to the Waymo autonomous car.
Waymo mentioned the recall treatment included a software program replace to enhance automobiles’ detection response to pole or pole-like everlasting objects, and “strong mapping updates and enhancements” which have already been put in in the entire automobiles.
NHTSA mentioned the automated driving techniques, earlier than the software program updates, “might fail to keep away from a pole or related object.
That is the newest in a collection of NHTSA investigations into the efficiency of self-driving automobiles after the regulator opened probes into Common Motors Cruise and Amazon.com’s Zoox.
In February, Waymo recalled 444 self-driving automobiles after two minor collisions in fast succession in Arizona, saying a software program error might lead to automated automobiles inaccurately predicting the motion of a towed car.
NHTSA on Wednesday mentioned it was in search of particulars a few collection of incidents that raised considerations concerning the efficiency of Waymo driverless automobiles.
The regulator mentioned a number of incidents “concerned collisions with clearly seen objects {that a} competent driver could be anticipated to keep away from.”
The “stories embrace collisions with stationary and semi-stationary objects resembling gates and chains, collisions with parked automobiles, and cases by which the (automated driving system) appeared to disobey visitors security controls,” it mentioned.
The company mentioned Waymo was to answer detailed questions by Aug. 6 and that the regulator needed to know if any of the automobiles had been grounded, and if there have been any assessments or updates to deal with particular incidents.
Waymo earlier mentioned it was “happy with our efficiency and security document over tens of hundreds of thousands of autonomous miles pushed.
