Waymo Analyzes Causes of Recent San Francisco Service Disruption
Waymo has released a postmortem analysis regarding the recent service disruption of its robotaxi fleet in San Francisco. The incident occurred when a significant power outage affected the city, leading to a series of complications for Waymo’s operations.
Understanding the Service Disruption
On Saturday, during the power outage, Waymo was forced to call back its robotaxis due to operational challenges. As traffic signals failed, the behavior of the Waymo Driver became problematic, ultimately resulting in the need to pull vehicles off the street.
Waymo reported that its technology is designed to navigate dark traffic signals as four-way stops. However, the blackout resulted in a surge of requests for human confirmation to ensure safe navigation. This congestion contributed to further traffic issues in the city.
Operational Challenges
- Over 7,000 dark signal intersections were navigated by Waymo on the outage day.
- A backlog of confirmation requests led to delays and increased congestion.
- Waymo’s fleet was directed to park safely, mitigating additional traffic issues.
The postmortem emphasized that Waymo prefers to refer to its support system as “fleet response,” rather than remote driving. This approach entails sending requests for human feedback in complex driving situations, aiming to maintain a perception of full automation.
Traffic Management and Perception
During this event, the sight of Waymo vehicles stopped at various intersections sparked concern and speculation on social media. Some perceived the situation as chaotic. However, Waymo took cautious measures, aiming to avoid further interference with emergency vehicles and provide a structured return of their fleet.
As an illustration of the response, Waymo stated, “We directed our fleet to pull over and park appropriately so we could return vehicles to our depots in waves.” This strategy was intended to minimize disruptions during a critical recovery effort.
Path Forward After the Outage
Waymo’s postmortem did not suggest any plans to incorporate remote drivers in their future operations. Instead, the focus was on improving strategies for emergencies. The company outlined its intent to:
- Incorporate more information about outages.
- Enhance emergency preparedness and response protocols.
- Strengthen engagement with first responders.
Despite the challenges faced, Waymo expressed confidence in its mission. The company stated it remains committed to innovating and serving the residents and visitors of San Francisco.
