Alphabet-owned self-driving car company Waymo has issued a voluntary software recall of its entire fleet of 672 driverless vehicles, The Verge reported. This comes after an incident involving one of its driverless vehicles colliding with a telephone pole in Phoenix, Arizona last month.
The collision occurred on May 21 in Phoenix when an unoccupied Waymo vehicle was maneuvering through an alley to pick up a passenger. Despite the low speed of 8mph, the vehicle struck a telephone pole, resulting in damage to the vehicle but fortunately causing no harm to any individuals nearby.
In response to the incident, Waymo engineers deployed mapping and software updates across the entire fleet from the central depot, ensuring that current operations remain unaffected. This recall, affecting all 672 of its Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis, addresses an error in the software that incorrectly assessed the damage potential of the pole and updates mapping to better recognize road edges. It also aims to enhance the vehicles’ ability to identify and avoid obstacles, particularly in scenarios like narrow alleyways with poles integrated into the roadway.
This marks the second recall in Waymo’s history, the first being prompted by minor collisions last February involving 444 vehicles. The latest recall also underscores the heightened scrutiny autonomous vehicle companies are facing from regulators and the public. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating Waymo’s autonomous vehicle software following reports of 31 incidents involving robotaxi crashes or potential traffic law violations.
Meanwhile, apart from Phoenix, Waymo’s commercial driverless service operates in San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The company also has its sights set on Austin, Texas, and had previously announced its plans to launch a commercial robotaxi service in the city by the end of the year. The move comes after the company began testing its fully autonomous vehicles, without a safety operator, in Austin with company employees as the first passengers.
