Revised Waymo Autonomous Vehicle Software Update Addresses Circling Concerns
Self-driving cars produced by Waymo undergo a software update recall, affecting 1,200 vehicles.
Having hit a snag back in December 2024 when a passenger found himself stuck in a circle during a supposedly self-driving ride, Waymo’s sixth-month software fix to tackle chain and gate entanglements is now a full-proof solution.
Taking responsibility for the matter, Waymo issued a recall involving 1,212 of its autonomous vehicles due to software glitches causing accidents with chains, gates, and other similar barriers. The ride-hailing giant has already remedied the issue with an updated software installation for its autonomous driving systems (ADS). All 1,212 affected vehicles have undergone the software update no later than December 26, as per the recall report submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Waymo acknowledged in the report that there were instances where the ADS failed to detect chains, gates, or barrier-like objects correctly due to software defects. In turn, the vehicles collided with these objects. Interestingly, none of the 16 reported collisions that Waymo has experienced over the years caused injury, according to the report.
This revelation follows NHTSA’s launch of a preliminary probe into Waymo's ADS last year. The probe was prompted by several instances of Waymo vehicles colliding with objects like gates and chains. However, Waymo had already initiated software updates even before the investigation began, as detailed in the recall report.
Despite these minor setbacks, Waymo is unyielding in its commitment to road safety. The company promises a high standard of safety and notes a history of reducing injuries over tens of millions of fully autonomous miles driven [1][3]. A Waymo spokesperson stated to FOX Business, “NHTSA plays a vital role in road safety, and we will continue to work collaboratively with the agency as part of our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver."
Waymo is the primary player in the autonomous ride-hailing industry, with its vehicles offering driverless rides in four major cities, including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin [1]. The company plans to extend its services to Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C., in 2025 [2]. Having started from Google’s Self-Driving Car Project, Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, emphasizes its commitment to using technology to create a safer road environment.
[1] Waymo https://www.waymo.com/announcements/nhtsa-recall-report-software-update[2] FOX Business; Waymo provides more than 250,000 paid trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments in the U.S. https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/waymo-provides-more-than-250000-paid-rides-every-week-in-some-of-the-most-challenging-driving-environments-in-the-us[3] NHTSA https://downloader.nhtsa.gov/Downloader/files/316908.pdf
- Waymo, to ensure a safer road environment with its autonomous vehicles, has integrated credit to technology in its solutions, focusing on the development of advanced software to detect chains, gates, and similar barriers more accurately.
- In addressing the software glitches that led to collisions with barriers, Waymo has demonstrated a continuous commitment to innovation and technology, with regular updates ensuring their autonomous driving systems maintain the highest standards of safety.
