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Zoox recalls 105 robotaxis after smoke incident
Amazon-owned Zoox recalled software in 105 robotaxis after one drove into heavy smoke at a Las Vegas fire scene on June 20.
Image: TNW
Zoox has voluntarily recalled software in 105 robotaxis after an unoccupied vehicle drove into heavy smoke at an active fire scene in Las Vegas on June 20.
According to the company, the smoke obscured the scene and the area had not been blocked off with cones. The vehicle entered the scene, braked hard as it tried to steer away, and came to a stop. A Zoox remote employee then instructed it to reverse, after which first responders placed traffic cones to close off the area. No injuries were reported.
Zoox notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the recall on July 8 and said the incident was “the only event of this kind” it has seen.
The recall lands just after NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison told autonomous vehicle developers to address first responder interference by the end of July. Morrison cited “a clear pattern” of driverless vehicles entering emergency scenes, blocking ambulances, and failing to recognize smoke, flares, and flashing lights.
The issue is not limited to Zoox. Waymo recalled about 3,900 robotaxis last month after some vehicles drove into closed freeway construction zones. Its robotaxis also stalled during July 4 fireworks.
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Zoox has already issued several software recalls over the past year covering lane crossings, vehicle movement prediction, and pedestrian detection. The company operates its steering wheel-free, pedal-free robotaxis in parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco, with limited service in Miami and Austin and testing underway in six other US cities.
Amazon bought Zoox for $1.3 billion in 2020, but the company is still trying to catch Waymo, which runs about 4,000 automated vehicles nationwide.
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
