by Issues with Zoox’s Autonomous Vehicles
Zoox, a company owned by Amazon, has recalled 270 autonomous taxis due to a software error. This error could have led to the vehicle failing to detect nearby people. The incident occurred on May 8 in San Francisco when an autonomous vehicle stopped but was hit by an electric scooter rider. The person fell near the car, which then began moving forward in autonomous mode.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the scooter rider sustained minor injuries, but the autonomous vehicle did not run them over. Zoox temporarily suspended the operation of its autonomous vehicles and conducted an internal investigation. It was found that the software sometimes fails to recognize people lying down or positioned very close to the car, especially when the vehicle is moving slowly or just starting to drive.
Updates and Company Plans
Zoox has already fixed the issue with a software update that was tested both in simulations and real-world conditions. The update was installed on all 270 vehicles, and the company has resumed operations.
Despite this incident, Zoox is preparing to launch a public autonomous taxi service in Las Vegas by the end of the year. The company is already testing the service as part of an “early user program,” where selected individuals receive free rides in exchange for feedback.
Although Zoox does not often make headlines, its autonomous vehicles continue to improve. However, this case serves as a reminder that autonomous driving technologies still require refinement, especially in urban traffic conditions with many pedestrians and other road users.
