Waymo Updates Autonomous Software After Phoenix Collisions Expose Blind Spot

Waymo voluntarily recalled earlier software with U.S. regulators following two December 2023 collisions in Phoenix. Both involved towed vehicles positioned awkwardly across traffic lanes. The autonomous system failed to properly identify these obstacles, exposing a gap in how the cars perceive and navigate around unusual roadside hazards. Waymo deployed corrective software weeks later to strengthen object detection and path planning.