Amazon-owned Zoox recalled software in 105 of its robotaxis after a vehicle failed to detect heavy smoke and drove into an active emergency fire scene. The company notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the recall on July 8. The incident occurred on June 20 in Las Vegas when an unoccupied Zoox robotaxi encountered heavy smoke obscuring a fire scene that was not cordoned off with traffic cones. The voluntary recall follows NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison's directive last week calling on autonomous vehicle developers to ensure their vehicles do not interfere with first responders.
Zoox Robotaxi Enters Active Fire Scene on June 20
On June 20, an unoccupied Zoox robotaxi encountered heavy smoke that obscured an active emergency fire scene that was not cordoned off with cones. The vehicle entered the scene, then braked hard while attempting to steer away before coming to a stop. The incident took place in Las Vegas. A Zoox teleguidance employee instructed the vehicle to reverse, then first responders placed traffic cones to block off the scene. Zoox investigated the incident and determined it is the only event of this kind that has occurred. No injuries were identified.
NHTSA Issues Directive on First Responder Interference
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison issued a directive last week to autonomous vehicle developers to ensure their vehicles get out of the way of first responders. Morrison stated in the letter 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, or failed to recognize or respond to flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire and traffic cones. He called on AV developers and operators to immediately focus their resources on fixing this issue and present their solutions to the agency by the end of the month.
Zoox Operates Free Rides in Four U.S. Cities
Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.3 billion in 2020. The company operates driverless buggies that have no steering wheel or pedals, and feature four carriage-style seats that face inward. Zoox currently offers free rides in parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco, and is allowing select users to hail its robotaxis in small zones in Miami and Austin, Texas. Testing is also underway in six other U.S. cities. Zoox issued several software recalls last year to address issues over lane crossings, as well as its ability to predict the movement of other vehicles and pedestrians.
Waymo Recalled 3,900 Robotaxis Last Month
The company is racing to catch up to Alphabet's Waymo, which is the dominant robotaxi service in the U.S., with a fleet of about 4,000 automated vehicles in the country. Last month, Waymo recalled about 3,900 robotaxis after some of its vehicles drove into closed construction zones on freeways, increasing the risk of a crash.
FAQ
What did Zoox recall on July 8?
Zoox recalled software in 105 of its robotaxis after a vehicle failed to detect heavy smoke and drove into an active emergency fire scene on June 20 in Las Vegas.
Why did the Zoox robotaxi enter the fire scene?
The unoccupied Zoox robotaxi encountered heavy smoke that obscured an active emergency fire scene that was not cordoned off with traffic cones. The vehicle's software failed to detect the heavy smoke, causing it to enter the scene before braking hard and stopping.
What directive did NHTSA issue to autonomous vehicle developers?
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison issued a directive last week calling on AV developers to ensure their vehicles do not interfere with first responders and to present their solutions to the agency by the end of the month.
