Waymo, the self-driving company owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, has initiated a recall after two of its autonomous vehicles collided with a truck that was being towed. The incidents occurred on December 11, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona. According to Waymo, the first collision took place when one of its cars collided with a towed pickup truck that was crossing multiple lanes of traffic. Shortly after, a second Waymo vehicle also struck the same truck.
Fortunately, the collisions occurred at low speeds and did not cause any injuries. Additionally, there were no passengers in the Waymo vehicles at the time of the incident. Waymo promptly cooperated with the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration to investigate the matter.
In an official statement on its blog, Waymo explained that the collisions occurred due to the incorrect prediction of the towed vehicle’s future motion. This error was a result of the persistent orientation mismatch between the towed pickup truck and the tow truck combination. Following intensive development and rigorous testing, Waymo has developed a software update to address this issue. The update has been deployed to Waymo’s fleet since December 20, 2023.
As a precautionary measure, Waymo has submitted a voluntary recall report for the software running in its vehicles. This recall could potentially affect up to 444 Waymo vehicles. The company is committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of its autonomous technology and continues to innovate in order to fulfill its vision of a future with self-driving cars.
Waymo’s vehicles have accumulated an impressive milestone of driving more than 10 million miles autonomously. Starting with automated taxi services in Phoenix in 2020, the company has expanded its coverage to encompass most of the city since May 2023. Waymo remains at the forefront of the autonomous driving industry and is dedicated to advancing the technology to deliver safer and more efficient transportation solutions.
FAQ Section:
Q: What prompted the recall initiated by Waymo?
A: Waymo initiated the recall after two of its autonomous vehicles collided with a truck being towed.
Q: When did the collisions occur?
A: The collisions occurred on December 11, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Q: Were there any injuries as a result of the collisions?
A: Fortunately, the collisions occurred at low speeds and did not cause any injuries.
Q: Were there any passengers in the Waymo vehicles during the incidents?
A: No, there were no passengers in the Waymo vehicles at the time of the incident.
Q: Why did the collisions occur?
A: Waymo explained that the collisions happened because of the incorrect prediction of the towed vehicle’s future motion. This error was due to the persistent orientation mismatch between the towed pickup truck and the tow truck combination.
Q: Has the issue that caused the collisions been addressed?
A: Yes, Waymo has developed a software update to address the issue and has deployed it since December 20, 2023.
Q: How many vehicles could potentially be affected by the recall?
A: The voluntary recall report submitted by Waymo could potentially affect up to 444 of its vehicles.
Q: How many miles have Waymo’s vehicles driven autonomously?
A: Waymo’s vehicles have driven more than 10 million miles autonomously.
Key Terms and Definitions:
– Autonomous Vehicles: Vehicles that are capable of operating without human input or intervention.
– National Highway Safety Transportation Administration: The government agency responsible for ensuring the safety of motor vehicles and a focus on reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
– Software update: A new version or patch released by a company to address issues or improve the performance of software.
Suggested Related Links:
Waymo’s Official Website
The source of the article is from the blog lanoticiadigital.com.ar