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Waymo Faces New Recall For Software Failure In Robotaxis That Collided With Barriers, As US Investigations And Recurring Incidents Increase Pressure On Autonomous Technology
The future of autonomous vehicles faces another obstacle. Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle company, had to issue a new recall in its fleet. The reason was a software failure that made the robotaxis prone to colliding with objects such as chains, gates, and barriers.
The problem affected 1,212 vehicles. The failure was present in the fifth-generation autonomous driving system. The company stated that it had already released an update by the end of 2024 to fix the situation.
Incidents Under Investigation In The US
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary investigation into the incidents in May 2024.
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The agency received reports of seven collisions with stationary or semi-stationary objects between December 2022 and April 2024.
The NHTSA reported that the collisions involved visible objects that “a competent driver should avoid.” The investigation continues.
In addition to the seven mentioned cases, Waymo reported another nine similar incidents between February and December 2024. All were included in the correction applied at the end of the year.
The company stated that it was aware of 16 cases of this type since 2022. According to NHTSA documents, none of the incidents resulted in injuries.
Fix And Official Recall
The software fix was implemented starting in November 2024. By December, the entire fleet had already received the update. Waymo reported that the change significantly reduced the chance of collisions with barriers.
The company’s Safety Board opted to issue the recall for the specific version of the software. The decision, according to the NHTSA statement, was made to meet US regulatory requirements.
Previous Recalls Concern The Industry
This was not the only recent problem with the robotaxis’ software. In February 2024, Waymo had already issued a recall for 444 vehicles. At the time, two robotaxis collided with the same pickup truck that was being towed. The error was caused by a failure in trajectory calculation.
In June, another 670 vehicles were recalled after a robotaxi hit a wooden pole in Phoenix. The incident caused damage to the car, but no one was injured.
These episodes raise doubts about the reliability of the technology. Even with constant fixes, problems continue to arise, generating distrust in the market.
Waymo Continues To Expand
Despite the setbacks, Waymo continues to grow. The company operates over 1,500 vehicles in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin. It has also announced plans to launch services in Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, DC.
In a statement released by Reuters, Waymo highlighted that it offers over 250,000 paid rides per week in some of the most challenging environments in the US.
The company also stated that its track record shows a reduction in injuries over tens of millions of miles driven autonomously. For Waymo, this proves that its technology is making roads safer.
Market Reacts Positively
Even with ongoing investigations and constant recalls, Alphabet’s shares rose 4% on Wednesday. The movement was seen as a sign of investor confidence in the company’s ability to continue innovating.
Other companies in the sector also face challenges. Cruise, from General Motors, came under pressure after a serious injury to a pedestrian in 2023.
The latest relevant information is that, despite frequent failures and ongoing official investigation, Waymo maintains its expansion strategy and bets on the advancement of autonomous driving.
With information from Interesting Engineering.
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