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TechAmazon's Zoox Recalls 105 Robotaxis After Vehicle Drove Into Smoke at Emergency Scene
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Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox voluntarily recalled 105 robotaxis after an unoccupied vehicle drove into heavy smoke at an active emergency fire scene in Las Vegas on June 20. The vehicle failed to detect the smoke, entered the scene, braked hard, and stopped. A teleguidance employee instructed it to reverse, and first responders later placed cones. Zoox notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 8. The recall follows an NHTSA directive calling on autonomous vehicle developers to address issues with first responders, citing a pattern of AVs interfering with emergency scenes. Zoox has issued several software recalls in the past year. The company operates driverless buggies in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami, and Austin, and is testing in six other U.S. cities.
Source report
Amazon-owned Zoox has voluntarily recalled software in 105 of its robotaxis after the vehicles failed to detect heavy smoke and drove into it, the company confirmed.
Incident Details
On June 20, an unoccupied Zoox robotaxi encountered heavy smoke obscuring an active emergency fire scene in Las Vegas that had not been cordoned off with traffic cones. According to Zoox's report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- The vehicle entered the scene
- It braked hard while attempting to steer away
- It came to a stop
- A Zoox teleguidance employee instructed the vehicle to reverse
- First responders then placed traffic cones to block off the scene
Zoox stated that this is "the only event of this kind" that has occurred. No injuries were reported.
Recall and Regulatory Context
Zoox notified NHTSA of the recall on July 8. The voluntary recall follows a directive from NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison, who last week issued a letter to autonomous vehicle developers calling on them to ensure their vehicles get out of the way of first responders.
Morrison stated that the agency has "identified a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and other first responders," citing incidents where AVs:
- Drove into active emergency scenes
- Blocked the paths of ambulances or firefighters
- Failed to recognize or respond to flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire, and traffic cones
The letter, which does not name specific AV companies, calls on developers to "immediately focus their resources on fixing this issue" and present solutions to the agency by the end of the month.
Company Background
Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.3 billion in 2020. The company operates driverless buggies with no steering wheel or pedals, featuring four carriage-style seats that face inward.
Zoox currently offers free rides in parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco, and allows select users to hail its robotaxis in small zones in Miami and Austin, Texas. Testing is also underway in six other U.S. cities.
Previous Recalls
Zoox issued several software recalls last year to address issues related to:
- Lane crossings
- Predicting the movement of other vehicles
- Predicting pedestrian movement
Industry Context
Zoox is racing to catch up to Alphabet's Waymo, the dominant robotaxi service in the U.S., which operates a fleet of approximately 4,000 automated vehicles. Last month, Waymo recalled about 3,900 robotaxis after some vehicles drove into closed construction zones on freeways, increasing "the risk of a crash."
WATCH: NHTSA's Morrison: AV developers need to address first responder issues
Source
US Top News and AnalysisWestern
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Amazon's Zoox Recalls Robotaxis After Vehicle Drove Into Heavy Smoke at Emergency Scene