The incident raises questions about liability and safety as more autonomous machines operate in public spaces. Waymo's system had identified the delivery robot as an inanimate object, which contributed to the collision, as it did not exercise the same caution it would around humans. Serve Robotics confirmed that their robot was under remote human supervision, while the Waymo vehicle was operating autonomously without passengers. The situation highlights potential challenges in determining accountability when autonomous machines are involved in accidents.
Key takeaways:
- A Waymo robotaxi collided with a Serve Robotics delivery robot in Los Angeles, as captured by dashcam footage.
- The collision was minor, with the Waymo cab braking in time to avoid significant damage, and the Serve robot driving away afterward.
- The Serve robot reportedly ran a red light before the collision, and Waymo's system identified it as an inanimate object, leading to less caution.
- The incident raises questions about liability and responsibility as more autonomous robots operate on public streets.