Waymo issues software fix after driverless taxi hits telephone pole Waymo is updating its self-driving cars' software after another accident in Phoenix, Arizona, that the driverless taxi biz is blaming on faulty maps and code. Details of what is technically a voluntary software recall of Waymo's fifth-generation automated driver system (ADS) have not yet been published on the US National …
The account over at Slashdot has a few more details. Apparently the original source was The Verge Two quotes from The Verge article:
The company is filing the recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after completing a software update to 672 vehicles — the total number of driverless-capable vehicles in Waymo’s fleet. The update corrects an error in the software that “assigned a low damage score” to the telephone pole, and updates its map to account for the hard road edge in the alleyway that was not previously included. ...
... an unoccupied Waymo vehicle was driving to a passenger pickup location through an alley that was lined on both sides by wooden telephone poles. The poles were not up on a curb but level with the road and surrounded with longitudinal yellow striping to define the viable path for vehicles. As it was pulling over, the Waymo vehicle struck one of the poles at a speed of 8mph, sustaining some damage, the company said.
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"low damage score" makes it sound like it decided to hit the traffic pole instead of something else..
Probably an inherited issue from a much earlier self-driving vehicle. I think it was the Hellfire missile that had an optical seeker and guidance mode that used to confuse telegraph poles and their shadows for tank barrels and home in. Waymo may have kept this feature so come the revolution and Musk's Cybertanks, they can auto engage and fully discharge their batteries on contact.
Police: You realize you hit a telephone pole?
Robocar: You realize my taxes pay your salary?
Police: Have you been drinking?
Robocar: I only had a quart of oil, honestly! [sobbing] I was abused at the dealership. My dev and I are going through a divorce. I have two little scooters. Don’t tell the NHSTB!
You don't say ?
At least you're honest enough to blame the code, but are you really saying that your vehicles depend on up-to-date map info more than on actual detection abilities ?
Because if that's the case, I'm not getting into your boxes of death-by-ignorance.
Telephone poles are not included in Google Maps. You need to update your code.
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I had a friend who worked as a mapper - that was his job title - for a local electric power company. His job was to update AutoCAD drawings, based on field reports from surveyors, power-pole installers, and repair staff.
In other words, the power-pole-location computer files were continually out-of-date with respect to reality.
Is Wayno depending on such files to "avoid" power-poles, vs processing image data? If so, that ought to be (IANAL, and I don't know how the laws read) - considered criminal negligence.
Is Wayno depending on such files to "avoid" power-poles, vs processing image data? If so, that ought to be (IANAL, and I don't know how the laws read) - considered criminal negligence.
I agree on criminal negligence, but I'd hope they're not relying on maps. Plus telegraph poles are usually on pavements, so their auto-nav has much bigger problems if it can't detect and avoid those. I expect many more issues to come when FSD mows down pedestrians using zebra crossings, or drivers get fines for box junctions.
"several of the incidents involved collisions with clearly visible objects that a competent driver would be expected to avoid"
A competent driver that has developed for over 100 years and still manages to have collisions (some amusing and stupid) and that is the baseline this new technology is being compared against. Sounds like it could be a lot worse
There's a light fixture in a village near me that is currently surrounded by protective barriers and leaning precariously. Assuming that was done by a human driver I don't think we can lord it much over robo-drivers.
It's not like you'd be going fast while negotiating that bend or exiting that side road.
God is recalling all humans created after "The Fall" for software upgrades that will prevent them from driving while drunk, while angry at their spouses or lovers, while distracted by kids squabblilng in the back seat, or just failing to pay attention to what the heck is going on around them on the road. The upgrades will also include strict adherence to speed limits, coming to a full stop at stop signs, and not gunning it to make it through the interection on the tail end of the yellow.
Teenage males will also have testosterone levels reduced to reduce the incidents of stupid stunts while behind the wheel.
The package also includes software changes to bicyclists preventing them from running stop signs and generally requiring them to follow the rules of the road, since traffic laws apply to them, as well.
The recall process should be complete at or about the heat death of the universe.
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