A massive power outage in the United States temporarily halted operations of some Waymo vehicles, the autonomous vehicle service. This outage disrupted power infrastructure in certain areas, impacting various city functions, including transportation and communications. This has once again brought to light the reliability and dependence of autonomous driving systems.
Waymo announced that its autonomous vehicles have been automatically brought to a halt in areas experiencing power outages, prioritizing safety. While the vehicles themselves are battery-powered, they are designed with safety protocols in place to handle emergencies such as traffic lights, maps, and remote control networks failing to function properly. Consequently, some vehicles have been placed on standby at the edge of the road or at designated safety points.
The company explained that this outage was a preventative measure due to external infrastructure issues, not a technical glitch. They also emphasized that service was gradually restored as soon as power was restored, and that there were no issues with user safety or road safety. Local authorities also reported that no accidents or casualties were reported.
This case demonstrates that autonomous driving technology goes beyond the performance of individual vehicles and is closely linked to the infrastructure of the entire city. It reveals that autonomous driving services will inevitably be limited if the power, communication, and signaling systems fail to function organically. The industry is calling for more sophisticated design of emergency power systems and offline response scenarios for future commercialization of autonomous driving.
Experts believe that for autonomous driving to become a common mode of transportation, both advancements in vehicle technology and strengthened urban infrastructure stability are necessary. The recent Waymo outage is prompting consideration of new safety standards and operational strategies required in the era of autonomous driving.
