Waymo is forced to recall THOUSANDS of robotaxis across the US

"Waymo says the affected cars have a software issue that allows them to drive onto flooded roads. It follows an incident in San Antonio, Texas, on April 20, in which a Waymo drove into a flooded road and was swept away by the waters. While no one was on board the vehicle at the time, and no injuries occurred, the company warns that this unexpected behaviour could lead to 'a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury'."

"In a notice posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website on Tuesday, the company announced it would begin a 'voluntary recall'. The recall notice affects nearly 3,800 robotaxis using Waymo's fifth and sixth generation self-driving systems. Waymo, which is owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, says that a solution is 'under development' to prevent self-driving cars from accessing waterlogged areas."

"Waymo's robotaxis now operate across several US cities, such as San Francisco, Austin and Miami, providing more than 500,000 trips per week. However, the company also has ambitions to expand its self-driving services to other markets. Following a trial period, Waymo intends to operate the first-ever robotaxi service in London starting from September. Dozens of driverless cabs are already roaming the capital's streets, mapping out routes ahead of the launch."

"For now, the taxis have a safety driver behind the wheel and are not accepting fares, but they will be fully autonomous once the service begins. But with the September deadline looming, experts have warned that high-profile safety failures risk undermining public trust in this new technology. Professor Jack Stilgoe, an expert on emerging technologies from University College London, told the Daily Mail: 'Companies need to show"

Waymo will issue a voluntary recall affecting nearly 3,800 robotaxis equipped with its fifth and sixth generation self-driving systems. The company says a software issue can allow vehicles to drive onto flooded roads. The recall follows an April 20 incident in San Antonio, Texas, where a robotaxi entered a flooded road and was swept away. No one was inside and no injuries occurred, but Waymo warns the unexpected behavior could cause loss of vehicle control and increase crash or injury risk. Waymo states a solution is under development to prevent access to waterlogged areas. It is unclear whether the recall will affect plans to launch a fully autonomous robotaxi service in London in September.

Read at Mail Online