An unhoused man was apprehended by the Los Angeles Police Department on March 2 after allegedly trying to steal a fully autonomous vehicle. The suspect, Vincent Maurice Jones, hopped into the driver’s seat of a Waymo vehicle, a white Jaguar sedan, shortly after it dropped off a passenger on Main Street. However, Jones was unable to operate the vehicle’s controls to put it in motion.
Waymo’s advanced communication system quickly detected the unauthorized entry and urged Jones to exit the vehicle. When he refused to comply, the system promptly notified the police, resulting in Jones’ arrest for attempted grand theft auto. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has been extensively testing its self-driving vehicles in Los Angeles for over a year.
This incident occurred just days after the California Public Utilities Commission granted Waymo permission to expand its operations into San Mateo and LA counties, despite objections from local leaders. The commission’s decision has raised concerns among officials who argue that these autonomous vehicles pose significant risks to public safety.
LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn expressed her apprehensions, calling the commission’s decision “dangerous.” Mayor Karen Bass also voiced her reservations in an open letter, highlighting the lack of input from local jurisdictions in the deployment of autonomous vehicles and the disruption they have already caused.
It is worth noting that last year, a Waymo vehicle operating in LA failed to detect and stop for a traffic officer, further amplifying concerns regarding the technology’s reliability and readiness for widespread adoption.
As the landscape of autonomous vehicles continues to evolve, it is crucial for regulatory bodies to consider the valuable input of local authorities and ensure that thorough testing and evaluation are carried out to guarantee public safety. While autonomous technology holds great promise for the future, striking the right balance between innovation and responsible deployment remains paramount.
An FAQ based on the main topics and information presented in the article:
Q: What happened to the unhoused man apprehended by the Los Angeles Police Department?
A: The man, Vincent Maurice Jones, was arrested for attempted grand theft auto after allegedly trying to steal a self-driving Waymo vehicle.
Q: What alerted the system to the unauthorized entry?
A: Waymo’s advanced communication system detected the unauthorized entry and urged Jones to exit the vehicle.
Q: Who owns Waymo?
A: Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google.
Q: Where has Waymo been extensively testing its self-driving vehicles?
A: Waymo has been extensively testing its self-driving vehicles in Los Angeles for over a year.
Q: What concerns have been raised about the expansion of Waymo’s operations?
A: Concerns have been raised about the significant risks to public safety posed by autonomous vehicles, leading to objections from local leaders.
Q: Who voiced their reservations about the deployment of autonomous vehicles?
A: LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn and Mayor Karen Bass expressed their reservations about the lack of input from local jurisdictions and the disruption caused by autonomous vehicles.
Q: What incident regarding Waymo’s technology last year caused further concerns?
A: Last year, a Waymo vehicle operating in LA failed to detect and stop for a traffic officer, raising concerns about the reliability and readiness of the technology.
Q: What is important for regulatory bodies to consider as autonomous vehicles evolve?
A: Regulatory bodies should consider the input of local authorities, conduct thorough testing and evaluation, and prioritize public safety during the deployment of autonomous vehicles.
Definitions:
– Grand theft auto: The act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle.
– Autonomy: The ability of a vehicle or machine to operate independently, without human control.
– Regulatory bodies: Organizations or agencies that are responsible for creating and enforcing regulations and rules in a particular industry or field.
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The source of the article is from the blog scimag.news