A recent viral video showcases a Waymo robotaxi caught in an unusual predicament: endlessly circling a roundabout with no apparent way out. The video, shared widely across social media, sparked both amusement and concern over the reliability of autonomous vehicle technology. Waymo later confirmed that there were no passengers in the vehicle during the incident and assured the public that a software update has since resolved the issue.
This peculiar event is just the latest in a string of bizarre occurrences involving autonomous vehicles, particularly in San Francisco, a city often at the forefront of testing self-driving technology. Earlier this year, another Waymo car was spotted completing an astonishing 37 laps in a roundabout. Like the recent incident, there were no passengers aboard, and the strange loop ended only after the car’s monitoring system intervened. While the exact resolution process was not detailed, Waymo engineers are capable of using waypoints to redirect vehicles out of such scenarios.
In yet another odd episode, Waymo vehicles were reported to be incessantly honking in a parking lot during the night. The incident gained widespread attention when a local resident set up a livestream to capture the surreal scene, drawing curious onlookers from across the internet.
These incidents raise questions about the readiness of autonomous technology for widespread adoption, even as companies like Waymo tout their vehicles as a safer and more convenient alternative to traditional rides. Waymo One, the company’s flagship autonomous ride-hailing service, operates without human drivers and has logged over 20 million miles on public roads. Customers can hail these driverless cars via an app, enjoying a clean and secure ride 24/7.
Despite these impressive milestones, occasional glitches like unplanned loops or erratic behavior, such as a Waymo vehicle swerving into oncoming traffic to avoid unicyclists, have cast a shadow on the system’s reliability. Each event underscores the challenges of programming AI to navigate unpredictable, real-world situations.
While Waymo’s swift response to fix the software bug is commendable, these occurrences highlight the hurdles that autonomous vehicles must overcome before they can fully replace traditional transportation. For now, the viral roundabout incident serves as both a humorous anecdote and a reminder that self-driving technology is still very much a work in progress.
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I’m Shivam Kumar. I’m pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day….
