When Robotaxis Take the Scenic Route: The Waymo Loop Incident
Imagine being driven around in circles by a car you can’t control. This was the reality for Mike Johns, founder and CEO of Digital Mind State, who found himself in a circular conundrum inside a Waymo robotaxi.
- A video of a Waymo taxi stuck in a roundabout went viral last month.
- Johns experienced a similar loop around a parking lot en route to Phoenix Airport, worried about missing his flight and potential hacking.
- Waymo confirmed the incident and stated it was resolved with a software update.
“I’m all for AI…but there still is a human factor,” Johns reflected on his experience.
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Waymo’s response involved their customer support calling into the car without Johns needing to ask. However, the agent couldn’t control the vehicle directly, highlighting a potential flaw in the system. Johns was directed to use the Waymo app to rectify the issue, which left him questioning why there wasn’t a simpler solution.
Missy Cummings, an autonomy expert from George Mason University, emphasized the importance of having an emergency stop in autonomous vehicles. “There’s a big red button somewhere,” she remarked, stressing its necessity for passenger safety during unexpected situations.
- Waymo vehicles do feature an emergency “pull over” button accessible via app and passenger screen.
- Johns was unaware of this option during his ordeal.
- Cummings criticized reliance on user interaction during emergencies as “error-prone.”
Ultimately, Waymo assured that Johns wasn’t charged for the ride and offered compensation. However, this incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between advanced technology and human oversight. As we embrace autonomous innovation, ensuring passenger safety and seamless user experience must remain paramount.
