Zoox recalls 105 autonomous vehicles over emergency scene response
The Amazon-owned company says a software update is meant to improve how its vehicles detect and respond to heavy smoke.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
Zoox is recalling 105 autonomous vehicles in the United States after one of its driverless cars entered an active fire response area, the Amazon-owned company said. The move adds to federal scrutiny of how robotaxis behave around police, firefighters and ambulances.
The company said Friday that the recall is tied to concerns that its vehicles may fail to detect heavy smoke and could get in the way of emergency crews. Zoox said it plans a software update to improve how its vehicles identify and respond to heavy smoke.
According to Zoox, the incident that prompted the recall happened June 20, when an unoccupied Zoox autonomous vehicle encountered thick smoke that was blocking visibility near an active fire scene. The vehicle entered the area, braked sharply while trying to steer away and stopped, the company said.
Zoox said the vehicle then reversed while operating under teleguidance. First responders later placed traffic cones at the scene, closing two of the three lanes, according to the company.
Federal officials press robotaxi companies
The recall comes after Jonathan Morrison, head of the US vehicle regulatory agency, warned autonomous vehicle companies about repeated problems involving driverless vehicles and emergency responders. In a letter to the companies, Morrison said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had recorded multiple cases of robotaxis entering active emergency scenes.
Morrison wrote that other incidents involved autonomous vehicles blocking ambulances and firefighters, or failing to react properly to visible emergency conditions such as flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire and traffic cones. He said an autonomous vehicle that cannot interact safely with first responders poses a risk to the public.
The NHTSA said it planned to meet with vehicle developers by the end of the month to seek fixes. Morrison’s letter followed growing concern among safety officials about how driverless vehicles respond when emergency workers are directing traffic or controlling a scene.
Zoox’s recall is limited to its US fleet of 105 autonomous vehicles, according to the company. The company did not say in the announcement whether any injuries occurred in the June 20 incident.
Other self-driving incidents under review
Federal agencies are also examining other incidents involving autonomous vehicles. The NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating cases that include Waymo vehicles allegedly passing stopped school buses with lights activated in Texas, conduct that violates state law, according to the agencies.
Local media in Dallas reported in late May that a Waymo self-driving vehicle partially obstructed a route being used by fire trucks responding to an apartment building fire. Other videos have shown Waymo vehicles blocking an ambulance and driving through an active police scene, according to reports cited by Reuters.
The incidents have put pressure on autonomous vehicle developers to prove their systems can recognize emergency conditions and defer to first responders. Zoox said its new software is intended to strengthen capabilities already built into its vehicles.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.