Waymo has initiated a recall of its entire fleet of more than 600 self-driving vehicles following an incident where one of the autonomous cars struck a telephone pole in Phoenix, Arizona. This decision impacts 672 vehicles, necessitating updates to both their software and mapping systems. According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were no injuries as the event involved a solo Waymo car attempting a low-speed pullover maneuver in an alleyway last month. Despite the absence of injuries, the vehicle sustained damage.
The issue at hand stems from the self-driving vehicle's response to stationary objects like poles. In addressing this, Waymo has completed an update to the vehicle's software designed to improve its reaction to such obstacles. Additionally, they have provided an update for the digital mapping system, which now includes a distinct boundary between the road surface and pole-like objects. Despite the recall, operations remain unaffected as acknowledged by Waymo, "we have already deployed mapping and software updates across our entire fleet, and this does not impact our current operations" as mentioned in a FOX 10 Phoenix report.
Waymo expressed a commitment to safety and trust-building within communities they operate, highlighting that these updates do not mark a halt in their services. The company's service area recently grew to include North Phoenix, reaching up to the Desert Ridge area. As reported by AZFamily, the updates were swiftly implemented to maintain this trajectory of growth, "As we serve more riders in more cities, we will continue our safety first approach, working to earn trust with our riders, community members, regulators, and policymakers," said Waymo.
Residents of Phoenix can expect to see Waymo vehicles on the streets as usual, albeit with enhanced software and mapping capabilities. The fleet's presence continues unabated even as the company navigates this recall with proactive technological adjustments. For those interested in further details of the NHTSA report or Waymo's statement regarding the incident and subsequent actions, additional information can be found through a AZFamily coverage.
