Waymo recalls robotaxis after some vehicles entered construction zone

Waymo is recalling nearly 3,900 robotaxis after their self-driving software repeatedly failed to recognize ramp closures and construction zones in incidents in Arizona and California, according to a recall notice posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall comes after Waymo reviewed incidents that occurred in April and May in Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Area. The autonomous driving company temporarily restricted the robotaxis from driving on the freeway while it investigated the issue. The recall impacts Waymo's so-called 5th Generation Automated Driving System (ADS), which powers its fleet of Jaguar vehicles. The NHTSA said all of the recalled vehicles are believed to have the software defect. "Under certain circumstances, the [autonomous vehicle] may enter and drive at speed in freeway construction zones due to inappropriately prioritizing the avoidance of other freeway hazards and/or failing to recognize the construction zone," the recall notice states. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, expanded freeway driving last year, adding the capability to its vehicles in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles. The incidents included six in Phoenix, where Waymo robotaxis failed to recognize ramp-closure signs and drove into freeway construction zones. In May, another seven Waymo vehicles entered freeway lanes with active construction in the San Francisco area, driving between cones marking closures in adjacent lanes, according to the notice. …