On Saturday, a major power outage hit San Francisco, impacting around 130,000 customers at its peak, as reported by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. But this outage caused more than just darkness; it left Waymo’s autonomous vehicles stranded in the streets, creating unusual traffic jams. Users on social media shared videos of these unmoving SUVs, which became a talking point as people expressed their frustrations.
In contrast, Teslas using their Full Self-Driving feature were seen navigating the same congested streets without issues. Elon Musk even tweeted that “Tesla Robotaxis were unaffected by the SF power outage,” highlighting the different responses of these tech vehicles to such chaos.
Waymo quickly announced on social media that it had paused its ride-hailing services to keep riders safe and ensure emergency services could operate smoothly. By 7 AM PT, PG&E had restored power to about 110,000 customers. Crews continued repairs after a fire at a power substation, with a remaining 21,000 without power in areas like Presidio and Golden Gate Park.
The exact reason why the Waymo cars were stuck isn’t clear. However, speculation points to weak wireless data connections as cell towers may have been overwhelmed. Additionally, non-functioning streetlights could have contributed to the issue.
This isn’t the first time Waymo vehicles have struggled during outages. Earlier this year, videos on TikTok showed them halted due to malfunctioning streetlights and during another power outage in Austin, Texas. A former employee on Reddit explained that the vehicles rely on remote assistance. When they encounter problems, they wait for a response from a human operator, which can be hampered without reliable connectivity.
According to Waymo’s blog, the cars connect with human agents during complex situations. These agents get real-time visual feeds and detailed maps to assist the vehicles. However, a major power disruption can make this connection challenging. While I couldn’t obtain specific statistics on the number of remote operators available, Waymo recently underwent a third-party audit, passed by Tüv Süd, which assessed its remote assistance practices.
The events in San Francisco raise intriguing questions about the future of autonomous vehicles, especially during emergencies. As technology evolves, finding ways to ensure these cars can operate in adverse conditions will be crucial for their reliability.
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