Waymo to update software across fleet after Alphabet-owned company's major power failure fiasco

After its self-driving taxis stalled and caused traffic backups during a significant power outage in San Francisco last weekend, Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo announced that it would improve its automated software to better handle power outages.

A car will sometimes "request a confirmation check to ensure it makes the safest choice," according to a statement released by the company on Tuesday. The Waymo Driver system is designed to handle dark traffic lights in the same way as four-way stops.

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The interruption "created a concentrated spike in these requests," according to the business, even though the trucks "successfully" handled 7,000 traffic lights that were rendered inoperable by San Francisco's power loss on December 20.

Waymo's reaction time to its stranded vehicles was slowed by the rise. Waymo claimed to have ceased operations after local officials advised drivers to avoid the streets.

Over the course of the weekend, a fire at a PG&E Corp. substation caused power outages that affected over 130,000 customers in San Francisco. Videos posted on social media showed numerous Waymo cars stopped in the middle of the road, flashing their hazard lights and causing severe congestion.

The company said it was taking steps to integrate more information in its software about the “context” of regional power outages, letting the vehicles “navigate these intersections more decisively.