Waymo's promise of driverless technology still has a major vulnerability.
From doors left slightly open in Los Angeles to traffic jams during outages, the edge cases of the fleet still necessitate human intervention.
Waymo’s autonomous taxis are able to navigate city streets without a driver but can still halt due to basic issues requiring a person to step in, according to the Washington Post. This support system, which includes remote personnel and local contractors, is essential for maintaining the service.
Such vulnerabilities also manifest in minor disruptions and larger citywide issues. A door that isn't completely closed can prevent a vehicle from moving. In the event of a significant power outage, numerous vehicles may request assistance, causing some to remain stationary long enough to obstruct traffic. While the vehicle handles the driving, humans are needed for recovery.
Minor malfunctions can immobilize a car.
Certain stoppages are straightforward yet difficult to avoid. Passengers might leave a door ajar or a seatbelt could get caught in the backdoor. The vehicle may identify this as unsafe and refuse to proceed until the issue is resolved. There are also infrequent battery-related recoveries, according to Waymo.
Waymo offers assistance through an app named Honk, which functions as an on-demand dispatch system for towing and related services. Reported compensation ranges from $20 or more for closing a door, about $22 to $24 in some situations, and approximately $60 to $80 for a tow. Operators mentioned that those figures do not always cover costs related to fuel, time, and labor, particularly when it takes additional time to locate the stalled vehicle.
Looking ahead
The immediate question is whether Waymo can decrease the frequency of needed interventions as it expands to more cities next year. Each rescue adds to operational expenses, and when failures accumulate, they quickly become a public concern.
Waymo claims door problems are relatively uncommon and is working on enhancing pickups and drop-offs, including educating riders. The company also indicates that it has redundant GPS tracking after towing operators expressed concerns regarding inaccurate location data.
Modifications to hardware may eliminate some of the simplest issues. Waymo is testing next-generation vehicles developed with Zeekr that incorporate sliding doors designed for automatic operation. The larger challenge is managing remote support queues during significant disruptions, as this is when a cautious halt can lead to traffic congestion.
Paulo Vargas transitioned from an English major to a reporter and then a technical writer, with a career that has consistently circled back to...
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Waymo's promise of driverless technology still has a major vulnerability.
Waymo's robotaxis are capable of operating without a human driver, but fundamental problems such as an unlatched door or a sudden increase in remote assistance requests during a service disruption can still disrupt the fleet.