Zoox Recalls 332 Robotaxis for 'Human-Like' Driving Flaws Like Crossing Center Lines

What if driving like a human is no longer good enough? Amazon's self-driving unit, Zoox, has recalled its robotaxi software precisely because its AI was making maneuvers that are common for human drivers. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the company issued a voluntary recall for 332 vehicles over concerns its autonomous system caused them to cross over the center line or block crosswalks.

While there haven't been any collisions associated with the issue, Zoox noted in the NHTSA filing that it could increase the risk of a crash. The company currently provides free, driverless rides to the public in parts of San Francisco and Las Vegas.

The 'Human Driver' Dilemma

A Zoox spokesperson told TechCrunch the company identified maneuvers that, "while common for human drivers, didn’t meet its standards." For instance, a robotaxi might stop in a crosswalk to avoid blocking an intersection at a red light. In other cases, the vehicle made a late turn, resulting in a wide turn that crossed into the opposing lane.

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The issue was first flagged on August 26 when a Zoox vehicle made a wide right turn and partially entered the oncoming lane. After monitoring its data, Zoox identified 62 similar instances between August 26 and December 5.

A Pattern of Software Fixes

Zoox said in a statement it has "successfully identified and deployed targeted software improvements to address the root causes." Updates were rolled out on November 7 and again in mid-December. The recall affects vehicles that were operating on public roads between March 13 and December 18.

This isn't the first software stumble for Zoox this year. The company issued a recall in March for unexpected hard braking and two more in May to address concerns about the system’s ability to predict the movement of other road users.