Waymo has issued a recall for some of its robotaxis that could potentially speed through construction zones on freeways.
In a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Google subsidiary said that under certain circumstances, its robotaxis may enter and drive at speed in freeway construction zones due to "inappropriately prioritizing the avoidance of other freeway hazards and/or failing to recognize the construction zone."
Waymo said its safety committee began its review after incidents where its vehicles did not recognize and drove past ramp closure signs into pre-planned freeway construction zones. The company noted other events in San Francisco where Waymo vehicles drove around cones and into active construction zones.
"We identified an area of improvement regarding performance around freeway construction zones. We voluntarily restricted freeway operations last month while making improvements, proactively notified state and federal regulators, and decided to file a voluntary software recall with NHTSA," said Waymo in a statement obtained by Engadget.
The issue, which impacts 3,871 vehicles capable of driverless freeway operation, was tied back to Waymo's 5th Generation Automated Driving System (ADS). The company said it's deploying software improvements to avoid entering a construction zone and detecting that the autonomous vehicle is within a construction zone, as well as additional operational protocols.
