Waymo Admits Its Robotaxis Have a Small Issue With Driving Into Floodwaters

"Waymo says it’s recalling 3,791 of its robotaxis after one of them decided to test its seaworthiness and plow into floodwater. Reflecting a broader issue with its fleet, Waymo's cars when operating on higher speed roadways "may slow but not stop in response to detecting a potentially untraversable flooded lane," the Google-owned company conceded in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last week."

"Until it develops a "final remedy," Waymo said it'd limit its cars' access to higher-speed roadways that are vulnerable to flash flooding. "We are working to implement additional software safeguards and have put mitigations in place, including refining our extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain," the company said in a statement, per Bloomberg."

"The recall stems from an April 20 incident in San Antonio, Texas, when a Waymo encountered a flooded section of roadway with a 40 mph speed limit. The car should've stopped or avoided the floodwater, but it instead drove straight into it at a "reduced speed," per the recall notice. According to local reporting, the Waymo was swept away by the floodwater and dumped in the Salado Creek, and wasn't recovered until four days later."

"This isn't Waymo's first floodwater-related gaffe in San Antonio, though it's certainly its most dramatic. Weeks before, another Waymo had to be towed after getting stuck in a mildly flooded crossing. It didn't appear to be at risk of being swept away, however. Water, it appears, is the robotaxis' kryptonite. Recent footage showed a Waymo stop in the middle of a busy roadway in Austin, Texas because of a shallow puddle, clogging the traffic behind it."

Waymo is recalling 3,791 robotaxis after an April 20 incident in San Antonio, Texas, where a vehicle encountered a flooded roadway with a 40 mph speed limit. The vehicle drove into the floodwater at a reduced speed instead of stopping or avoiding the lane. Local reporting said the robotaxi was swept away and ended up in Salado Creek, with no occupants onboard and recovery occurring four days later. Waymo also acknowledged a broader fleet issue: on higher-speed roadways, vehicles may slow but not stop when detecting a potentially untraversable flooded lane. Until a final remedy is developed, Waymo plans to limit access to vulnerable higher-speed roadways and implement additional software safeguards and extreme weather operational refinements.

Read at Futurism