- Waymo recalled almost 4,000 robotaxis after construction zone navigation issues emerged.
- Defective software may allow a Waymo vehicle to enter a closed freeway construction zone.
- Software update is designed to ensure cars can identify and avoid construction work trouble.
For all the promises of self-driving technology, it’s still making mistakes that 99 percent of human drivers wouldn’t. Fresh proof of that is news that Waymo is recalling thousands of robotaxis after identifying a software issue that could cause them to enter construction areas or collide with temporary traffic control devices.
The recall covers over 3,800 vehicles and centers on the company’s 5th Generation Automated Driving System (ADS) brain, rather than any hardware defect. Certain roadway conditions and situations typical of construction zones could lead to the driverless cabs vehicles crashing through barriers, gates, chains, or other objects used to redirect traffic.
Related: A Thief’s Getaway Waymo Had 29 Cameras Watching, And Police Still Got Nothing
Waymo’s remedy is to push out a software update designed to address the issue across its fleet. And since the company owns all of the affected cars, none should slip through the net.
But it’s another reminder that autonomous driving remains a work in progress, and also maybe another reason to consider why we seem to be so hellbent on getting rid of human taxi drivers who, for the most part, have done a solid job of not crashing into construction zones for the past 100+ years.
This latest recall arrives shortly after Waymo found itself dealing with a completely different problem. Earlier this year, the company paused service in several cities after robotaxis repeatedly encountered flooded roads. One vehicle even spent close to an hour stranded in Atlanta floodwaters before conditions improved enough for a human to intervene.
Neither issue resulted in the sort of catastrophic failures critics often predict, but they do highlight a recurring challenge. Autonomous systems are generally excellent when conditions match their expectations. Trouble starts when roads suddenly become something they weren’t yesterday.
That’s particularly relevant as the robotaxi race accelerates. While Waymo works through recalls and software patches, competitors are pushing ahead. Uber recently announced a partnership with Stellantis and Wayve aimed at deploying large-scale autonomous ride-hailing services using purpose-built vehicles.
