Amazon's MK30 delivery drones crashed in Oregon after a software update made the drones' sensors overly sensitive to rain, leading to erroneous altitude readings. The incident, which occurred on December 16, was exacerbated by the removal of backup safety sensors known as 'squat switches'. The National Transportation Safety Board indicated these factors were significant in the crashes. Despite Amazon's claims of safety and compliance with regulations, the investigation raised concerns about reliance solely on updated software for crash prevention.
Amazon's MK30 drones fell from the sky due to a software update vulnerability to rain, compounded by the removal of a crucial safety sensor.
The National Transportation Safety Board linked the crashes to faulty lidar readings exacerbated by rain and a sensitivity increase from the recent software change.
Amazon denied claims about the sensor removal, stating that the MK30 has multiple sensor inputs to avoid false readings and enhance reliability.
The absence of backup 'squat switches' left the drones depending solely on sensor inputs, which likely played a role in the crashes.
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