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Zoox Recalls 105 Robotaxis After Fire-Scene Failure
Zoox recalled 105 robotaxis after one entered heavy smoke at a Las Vegas fire scene, underscoring autonomous vehicles' emergency-response limits.
Image: TNW
Amazon’s Zoox has voluntarily recalled the software in 105 robotaxis after one unoccupied vehicle drove into heavy smoke at an active fire scene in Las Vegas on June 20. No injuries were reported.
The smoke obscured the emergency scene, which had not been cordoned off with traffic cones. The robotaxi entered the area, braked hard while trying to steer away, and stopped. A Zoox remote employee instructed the vehicle to reverse, after which first responders placed cones to block the scene.
Zoox notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the recall on July 8. The company said the incident was “the only event of this kind” to have occurred.
NHTSA deadline for autonomous-vehicle response
The recall follows a directive from NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison, who told autonomous-vehicle developers to address interference with first responders by the end of July. Morrison cited repeated cases of driverless vehicles entering emergency scenes, blocking ambulances, and failing to recognize smoke, flares, and flashing lights.
NHTSA cited “a clear pattern” of driverless vehicles interfering with emergency scenes.
Zoox issued several software recalls last year involving lane crossings, vehicle-movement prediction, and pedestrian detection. Waymo recalled about 3,900 robotaxis last month after some vehicles drove into closed freeway construction zones. Waymo robotaxis also stalled during July 4 fireworks.
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The incidents highlight the difficulty autonomous vehicles face in unpredictable emergency situations, even when they handle routine driving conditions. Zoox operates driverless vehicles without steering wheels or pedals in parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco, with limited service in Miami and Austin and testing in six other US cities.
The company is competing with Waymo, which operates about 4,000 automated vehicles nationwide. Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.3 billion in 2020.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via TNW
