Waymo rolls out software update after blackout stranded robotaxis across San Francisco
Waymo announced a fleet-wide software update following a major power outage in San Francisco that revealed a critical flaw in its autonomous system. The Alphabet-owned company had to suspend robotaxi service as driverless cars struggled at dark intersections throughout the city.
The software update aims to enhance Waymo’s self-driving software’s ability to recognize and respond to large-scale power outages. This update will allow vehicles to navigate dark intersections more effectively without overwhelming the company’s remote human assistance system, which faced challenges during the blackout.
Over the weekend, a power outage caused by a fire at a PG&E substation disrupted electricity for a significant portion of San Francisco, leading to traffic signal failures citywide. This resulted in gridlock and multiple Waymo vehicles being stranded or stationary on busy streets.
Waymo had to temporarily halt operations as the outage worsened, with malfunctioning traffic lights and transit issues causing chaos on the streets during a peak shopping weekend.
The blackout left as many as 130,000 households without power, affecting nearly 30% of the city. This caused Waymo vehicles to come to a standstill at intersections just as evening traffic was building up.
Despite the challenges, Waymo worked closely with San Francisco officials to manage the situation, ensuring the safe return of vehicles to depots or pulling them to the side of the road as emergency crews restored order.
Service resumed once power was restored to most neighborhoods, although some areas remained without electricity. Waymo’s vehicles are programmed to treat dark signals as four-way stops, but the scale of the outage caused delays as cars navigated through the signal failures.
This incident highlighted a rare disruption for Waymo in its home market, where it operates driverless ride-hailing services at scale. The company has faced scrutiny following various incidents in San Francisco, including collisions and infrastructure-related disruptions.
Waymo continues to expand its driverless service nationwide, with plans to enter more cities by the end of 2026. Despite the challenges, the company remains committed to improving its technology and earning the trust of the communities it serves.
The outage served as a learning experience for Waymo, prompting the company to review its response and enhance its technology to better adapt to unexpected events like large-scale power outages.
Source: New York Post
