A Waymo robotaxi was recently caught on video endlessly navigating a roundabout, echoing the comedic misadventure of Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s European Vacation. The video, which has circulated widely on social media, shows the autonomous vehicle stuck in a loop without completing its exit.
Waymo confirmed the incident, stating that no passengers were onboard during the episode and that the issue has since been resolved through a software update deployed across its fleet. While the company did not disclose the precise cause, TechCrunch has sought further details on the underlying programming flaw and how engineers addressed the unusual situation.
Waymo gets stuck in a roundabout loop
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Instances of peculiar robotaxi behavior have become increasingly visible, especially in San Francisco, a testing ground for autonomous vehicle technologies. Earlier this year, a resident livestreamed Waymo vehicles honking through the night in a nearby parking lot, adding to a growing catalog of glitches in real-world autonomous navigation.
The roundabout misstep highlights the complexities of programming autonomous vehicles to handle uncommon traffic scenarios seamlessly. Despite such setbacks, companies like Waymo continue refining their systems to ensure the safety and reliability of driverless technology in everyday use.
