A self-driving bus trial in Gothenburg, Sweden, was suspended after the vehicle collided with a tram on its inaugural day carrying passengers. Although no injuries were reported, the bus was taken out of service for inspection. This incident occurs amidst ongoing challenges for autonomous vehicle deployment, as highlighted by Waymo’s recent recall of its robotaxis due to issues navigating flooded areas, demonstrating the complexities of programming these vehicles to handle unpredictable environmental conditions.
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Waymo is initiating a voluntary recall of approximately 3,800 robotaxis equipped with its fifth and sixth-generation automated driving systems. This action stems from identified software issues that could lead to vehicles entering flooded roadways. The recall follows a recent incident where a Waymo vehicle stalled in a flooded street in Austin, Texas, and another where a vehicle was swept into a creek in San Antonio. To address these concerns, Waymo is implementing software updates and operational mitigations to prevent vehicles from encountering flooded areas during extreme weather.
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During a traffic stop in San Bruno last September, police officers observed a Waymo autonomous vehicle execute an improper U-turn. Upon initiating a stop, officers were unable to issue a citation as there was no human driver present. The department subsequently contacted Waymo regarding the incident, referring to it as a “glitch.”
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Waymo reported to the NHTSA that one of its driverless vehicles struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, on January 23rd, leading to a NHTSA investigation. The child sustained minor injuries, and the collision occurred during school drop-off hours within two blocks of the school. The Waymo vehicle, operating without a human safety supervisor, was running on its 5th Generation Automated Driving System. The NHTSA will evaluate the vehicle’s caution, behavior in school zones, and Waymo’s post-impact response.
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Waymo, an autonomous ride-hailing service, is preparing to file a voluntary software recall due to reports of its self-driving vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation after documented instances, including incidents where Waymo vehicles drove past buses with flashing lights and extended stop arms, putting students at risk. Waymo attributes the issue to a software problem and aims to release updates to correct the issue, emphasizing that no injuries have occurred. Despite claiming a strong safety record, with fewer crashes than human drivers, Waymo is facing scrutiny from federal regulators and is expected to provide more detailed information on the incidents.
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KitKat, a cherished cat known for his friendly demeanor at Randa’s Market in San Francisco’s Mission District, tragically died after being struck by a Waymo robotaxi on October 27th. Witnesses reported that the cat was sitting near the stationary vehicle before it pulled away, resulting in the fatal incident. The community has expressed deep sadness, with Waymo offering condolences and a donation to an animal rights organization. This event highlights previous encounters of autonomous vehicles with animals, raising further safety concerns.
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The Colombian navy recently seized an unmanned “narco sub” equipped with a Starlink antenna off its Caribbean coast, believed to be a test run by a major cocaine trafficking cartel, which has the capacity to transport 1.5 tons of cocaine. This is not the first instance of Starlink usage by drug traffickers; in November, Indian police seized a meth consignment in a remote-controlled vessel utilizing Starlink. The rise of autonomous subs, described as hard-to-detect and operated with autonomy, reflects a shift towards more sophisticated unmanned systems. The absence of a crew also removes the risk of captured operators cooperating with authorities and makes it difficult to identify the drug lords behind the shipments.
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Anticipating Tesla’s June 22nd Austin robotaxi pilot launch, protests erupted, fueled by concerns over the safety of Tesla’s partially automated driving systems. Critics, citing NHTSA data on hundreds of collisions and fatalities involving Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD features, demonstrated the system’s flaws by showing a Tesla equipped with FSD software failing to stop for a school bus and striking a child-sized mannequin. These demonstrations highlight the protesters’ opposition to the unsupervised FSD technology slated for the robotaxi program. The demonstrations were organized by groups such as the Dawn Project, Tesla Takedown and Resist Austin.
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On Sunday afternoon, a Tesla veered off the road at the junction of Mile End Road and Harford Street in London, striking pedestrians and a lamppost. Seven people sustained injuries and were transported to hospitals, with two prioritized for major trauma centers. Social media footage depicts the wrecked vehicle and injured individuals on the pavement. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
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John Q. Hosedrinker