Waymo is initiating a comprehensive software upgrade across its fleet in the aftermath of a significant power outage in San Francisco that exposed a critical flaw in its autonomous driving technology.
The blackout compelled the Alphabet-owned enterprise to temporarily suspend robotaxi services as its self-driving vehicles grappled with darkened intersections throughout the city.
City-Wide Gridlock Triggered by Outage
The weekend power interruption, instigated by a fire at a PG&E substation in the South of Market neighborhood, left nearly one-third of San Francisco without electricity.
As a result, traffic signals fell into darkness across extensive areas of the city, inciting severe congestion during one of the year’s peak shopping periods.
At the height of the crisis, approximately 30% of the city experienced power failure, with traffic lights becoming non-functional from downtown through to the Richmond and Presidio districts.
Robotaxis Immobilized at Dark Intersections
While Waymo’s vehicles are programmed to interpret unlit signals as four-way stops, the magnitude of the outage stretched the limits of the company’s remote assistance capabilities.
Numerous vehicles became immobilized at intersections and key thoroughfares, exacerbating traffic woes as police and fire personnel were dispatched to manually regulate flow.
Footage circulated on social media depicted several Waymo robotaxis stranded in bustling locales as the blackout escalated.
Service Interruption Amid Escalating Disruption
Waymo announced a proactive suspension of its operations on Saturday evening as conditions deteriorated, with non-operational traffic signals and transit disturbances obstructing city thoroughfares. Vehicles were either returned to depots or safely positioned at the roadside to avoid hindering emergency services.
Throughout the outage, the company collaborated closely with San Francisco authorities, coordinating vehicle movements while crews endeavored to restore power and manage traffic flow effectively.
Implementation of Fleet-Wide Software Patch
In reaction to the incident, Waymo is deploying a software update aimed at enhancing its autonomous system’s ability to recognize large-scale power outages.
This update is intended to enable vehicles to navigate dark intersections more effectively without overburdening the remote assistance framework during extensive infrastructure failures.
Expansion Plans Persist Despite Challenges
Waymo stands as a prominent player in the commercial robotaxi sector in the United States, operating driverless services across five major metropolitan areas.
With over 1,500 vehicles in its fleet, the company functions in markets including Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta, and is poised to expand into more than two dozen additional cities by 2026.
Source link: Livemint.com.
