Zoox Issues Second Robotaxi Software Recall in a Month

Zoox Issues Second Robotaxi Software Recall Following Collision

Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has issued its second voluntary software recall in just one month. This follows a collision in San Francisco on May 8th between a Zoox robotaxi and an e-scooter rider.

The incident involved an unoccupied Zoox vehicle traveling at low speed. The company states the e-scooter struck the robotaxi after it braked to yield at an intersection.

This recall comes weeks after another recall of approximately 270 Zoox vehicles. The previous recall followed a crash in Las Vegas between a Zoox robotaxi and a passenger car. Both incidents raise concerns about the self-driving software's ability to predict other road users' movements.

Zoox's official statement on the May 8th crash explains, "The Zoox vehicle was stopped at the time of contact. The e-scooterist fell to the ground directly next to the vehicle. The robotaxi then began to move and stopped after completing the turn, but did not make further contact with the e-scooterist."

According to Zoox, the e-scooterist declined medical attention for minor injuries.

Zoox has shared information and video footage with regulators. The company has also issued a software update. This update aims to "improve perception tracking and further prevent vehicle movement when a vulnerable road user may be very near the vehicle."

Continued Movement After Collision Raises Concerns

A robotaxi continuing to move after a collision risks further harm to those involved. This echoes a previous incident with Cruise, a competitor of Zoox. Following an incident where a Cruise robotaxi struck and dragged a pedestrian, the company faced significant repercussions, including recalling its entire fleet.

This raises questions about whether this concern prompted Zoox's software recall, or if other factors, like unexpected hard braking, played a role. In March, Zoox recalled 258 vehicles due to unexpected hard braking issues following two collisions with motorcyclists.

Zoox has not yet provided details on the number of vehicles affected by this latest recall or how this update differs from the previous one. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been contacted for further information.