Waymo Remembers Software program for 1,200 Robotaxis

Waymo issued a software program recall for its robotaxi fleet of about 1,212 vehicles after a number of of them bumped into objects equivalent to gates and chains, based on a report filed with the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration.

A spokesperson for NHTSA informed Enterprise Insider in an electronic mail that the company opened an inquiry into Waymo’s fifth-generation driver final yr after receiving 22 incident stories, a few of which included collisions with stationary and semi-stationary roadway limitations. The spokesperson stated the investigation stays open.

The NHTSA report stated the incidents involving collisions into the limitations occurred between December 2022 and April 2024. There have been no accidents concerned, the report stated.

In response to the report, Waymo additionally flagged to NHTSA 9 different minor collisions with comparable limitations that occurred between February 2024 and December 2024. By the point NHTSA opened the inquiry, Waymo stated that it had been engaged on a software program replace, based on the report.

A software program replace was totally rolled out for Waymo’s total fleet by December 2024. It doesn’t impression Waymo’s present operations, a Waymo spokesperson informed Enterprise Insider in an electronic mail.

“Waymo gives greater than 250,000 paid journeys each week in among the most difficult driving environments within the US,” the spokesperson wrote. “We maintain ourselves to a excessive security commonplace, and our file of decreasing accidents over tens of hundreds of thousands of totally autonomous miles pushed exhibits our know-how is making roads safer. NHTSA performs an important function in street security, and we’ll proceed to work collaboratively with the company as a part of our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver.”

That is the third recall Waymo has issued in little greater than a yr.

In February 2024, Waymo issued a voluntary recall of greater than 400 autos after two of its robotaxis crashed right into a pickup truck that was being towed. The crash precipitated solely minor car injury, and no passengers had been concerned.

The corporate issued one other voluntary recall in June 2024 for greater than 670 vehicles after an unoccupied Waymo crashed right into a phone pole in Phoenix, based on NHTSA report.

Each remembers concerned software program updates.

Waymo has stated that its robotaxis are safer than human drivers. Information printed by the corporate confirmed that Waymo’s vehicles noticed 81% “fewer injury-causing crashes” than the common human driver when evaluating hundreds of thousands of miles Waymo has pushed in Phoenix and San Francisco.