Waymo to update self-driving software after blackout failure in San Francisco
Alphabet’s Waymo will roll out a major software update across its robotaxi fleet following a blackout in San Francisco that left several vehicles immobilized and blocking traffic. The company acknowledged that while its cars successfully navigated over 7,000 unlit intersections, a small number became stuck due to incomplete mapping data and GPS issues during the outage. Waymo plans to enhance its system’s ability to handle similar scenarios by improving geolocation management and traffic light interpretation under blackout conditions.
The incident underscores the challenges of deploying autonomous vehicles in unpredictable real-world conditions and the importance of robust fail-safes.
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