Seen a robotaxi stopped for no reason? It'll move again soon
Share and Follow

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) Have you seen a robotaxi stop, but the road ahead is clear of obstacles? Over the last week, so did affiliate KXAN employees.

Between May 31 and June 3, multiple self-driving cars stopped on W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in front of the KXAN station. The vehicles paused before a low-hanging tree branch.

Waymo robotaxis stop because of a low hanging branch. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)

But after several seconds, the car would enter the oncoming lane and pass the empty space. Human-driven cars navigated the branch without delay after the driverless cars moved.

When a situation like this happens, the vehicle is likely functioning as it should.

The cars, operated by robotaxi company Waymo, use a combination of cameras, radar and lidar to detect objects in front of and around them. A Waymo spokesperson told KXAN that the branch may have been low enough to enter the top part of the cars’ sensor map.

The spokesperson explained that the company approaches these incidents with ample caution. The car notifies a Waymo employee, who will remotely examine and intervene to get the vehicle safely moving again.

And the tree? City of Austin workers stopped by and trimmed the branch Tuesday afternoon.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Search continues for missing children and adults in Kerrville

AUSTIN (KXAN) The city of Kerrville and Kerr County provided another update…
Chicago-area priest Father Curtis Lambert accused of sexual abuse of a minor at Sacred Heart Parish in Melrose Park: Archdiocese

“Archdiocese Reports Allegations of Sexual Abuse by Chicago Priest at Sacred Heart Parish in Melrose Park”

MELROSE PARK, Ill. (WLS) — A priest who served at multiple Chicago-area…
American with 'CIA' credentials and variety of weapons arrested in Mexico

American with ‘CIA’ credentials and variety of weapons arrested in Mexico

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! An American national with…
Texas police officer shot near ICE detention center as Trump officials promise zero tolerance

Texas police officer shot near ICE detention center as Trump officials promise zero tolerance

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The Trump administration is…
Weather agency under fire after failing to warn of Texas floods

Criticism towards weather agency for not alerting about Texas floods

The agency under fire over a delayed warning ahead of the floods…
Texas weather: Massive recovery efforts underway in Kerr County following catastrophic flooding in Central Texas

Recovery Efforts in Kerr County Following Catastrophic Flooding in Central Texas

KERR COUNTY, Texas — Rescuers scoured a devastated central Texas landscape of…
Top West Bank leaders propose leaving Palestinian Authority, recognizing the state of Israel: letter

Key West Bank Officials suggest withdrawing support from Palestinian Authority and acknowledging Israel as a state: communication

A team of five prominent Palestinian officials from the Hebron region in…
Birmingham Police searching for 2 suspects involved in armed robbery

Birmingham Police on the lookout for 2 individuals linked to armed robbery

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Birmingham Police Department is requesting the public’s…