Waymo is responding to the navigation missteps that its robotaxis experienced amid a blackout in San Francisco over this recent weekend. On Thursday, the company finally responded to these 2019 incidents with a soft way out—announcing a voluntary software update. This update is making it possible for its autonomous cars to deal with disabled traffic lights more decisively during power outages.
During the blackout, Waymo’s robotaxis felt the impact of a “concentrated spike” in confirmation requests, causing backups at otherwise cleared intersections. This famous incident was filmed and is a great summary of the challenges faced by autonomous technology in real-world situations. The crash is a cautionary tale about the challenges in creating truly dependable self-driving technology.
As Waymo detailed in a blog post, the blackout created specific challenges for its AVs. The increase in demand exceeded the capacity of the system, leaving some vehicles stranded at intersections. Consequently, Waymo is discovering at this very moment unexpected flaws with its software that will guide future iterations toward avoidable error.
Waymo claimed that this approach had been effective in the face of more localized disruptions. Now, we’re deploying fleet-wide updates to provide the self-driving software with detailed context about power outages so it can drive more confidently around them. It’s a good proactive approach to help make sure that its robotaxis are better protected in such incidents in the future.
Waymo’s robotaxis are fully driverless in San Francisco, and expanding to New York City. The company takes pride in its approach of creating a prudent, well-designed fleet of self-driving vehicles with clear ability to adapt to the unforeseen. They acknowledge that “navigating an event of this magnitude presented a unique challenge for autonomous technology.”
The recent blackout incident has brought into focus the need for ongoing, real-world testing and iteration of Waymo’s technology. To hone its self-driving technology, the company focuses on real-world incidents first. This methodology is designed to deliver safe and innovative operations no matter the environment.