When the Power Went Out in San Francisco, So Did Waymo's Robotaxis (insideevs.com)

A recent power outage in San Francisco significantly impacted Waymo's robotaxi fleet, rendering the self-driving vehicles immobile at intersections due to non-functioning traffic lights. As approximately 130,000 residents experienced power loss from a substation fire, Waymo temporarily suspended its ride-hailing services to prioritize rider safety and ensure emergency access. The robotaxis, which rely heavily on pre-mapped data and sensors for navigation, struggled to operate in the chaotic conditions caused by the outage, as many users shifted to cellular data, further straining network resources needed for real-time communication with human fleet response teams. This incident underscores critical challenges faced by autonomous vehicle technology in real-world scenarios, particularly related to reliance on both utility infrastructure and data bandwidth. Waymo did not specify why its vehicles failed to respond effectively during the outage, highlighting a potential vulnerability in their systems when confronted with unforeseen circumstances. As competition in the robotaxi market heats up—with notable remarks from rivals like Tesla, who claimed their vehicles remained operational during the outage—the event serves as a wake-up call for the industry to address the resilience and adaptability of autonomous systems in crisis situations.