Waymo robotaxi, owned by Google and operating in the Santa Monica area of California, made headlines last week following an unfortunate accident. In the incident, a 10-year-old girl was accidentally hit and injured by the vehicle. The company has released a detailed report detailing the circumstances of the accident and the millisecond-long responses of the autonomous systems.
According to the company's statement, the girl suddenly jumped out from behind a large, parked SUV. Waymo's advanced sensors immediately detected the pedestrian and applied emergency brakes to prevent a potential collision. Furthermore, the warning and braking systems significantly reduced the vehicle's speed just before the incident. The vehicle, which had been traveling at approximately 27 km/h, slowed down to below 9 km/h.
System Response and Security Data During an Incident
According to real-time analysis, a human driver in the same situation would only have been able to slow the vehicle to approximately 22 km/h if they had applied the brakes. The actions taken inside the vehicle during the accident demonstrate how quickly the sensors and automatic braking system activated. The girl who fell to the ground after the collision quickly regained consciousness, got up, and help was immediately called for.
Investigation and Security Measures
Waymo submitted detailed reports to authorities following the accident and provided information to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Company officials stated that they are fully prepared to cooperate with the investigations into the incident. Work continues on improving safety and systems to prevent such accidents.
