Seen a robotaxi stopped for no reason? It'll move again soon
Share this @internewscast.com

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 this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Several States Consider Eliminating Property Taxes for Homeowners

ATLANTA – Across the nation, a new rallying cry is gaining momentum…

Score Big Deals: SUVs for $400 and Dump Trucks for $1K at Orange County Auction!

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – If you’re planning any major construction ventures soon,…

Devastating Fire Engulfs Home Near Roan Mountain: Community Rallies in Aftermath

ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WJHL) — On Tuesday afternoon, a house fire broke…

EU Set to Impose Sanctions on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Amid Intensifying Protest Suppression

BRUSSELS – The European Union is on the brink of enacting sanctions…

Court Rules Against Noem: Venezuelan Protections to Remain in Place

A federal appeals court delivered a significant ruling on Wednesday, declaring that…

Daytona Gardens Apartments Designated as Nuisance Property Following Frequent Police Interventions

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In a decisive move, Daytona Beach has labeled…

Putin Engages in Crucial Talks with Syria’s Interim Leader on Future of Russian Military Bases

MOSCOW – Syria’s interim leader made his way to Moscow on Wednesday,…

Beloved Bristol Eatery Platter & Pour Announces Unexpected Closure: Community Reacts

Bristol, Va. (WJHL) — In a recent announcement, Platter & Pour, a…

Bristol City Council Sees Shake-Up as Nave Steps Down

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — On Wednesday, Becky Nave revealed she would be…

Tragic Shooting in Knoxville: Man Fatally Shot Amid Police Response to Endangered Child Alert

The Knoxville Police Department has launched an investigation following the fatal shooting…

Ballad Health Unveils Plans for New Hospital in Unicoi County

Ballad Health has announced plans to construct a new hospital in the…

Bruce Springsteen’s Bold Musical Takedown: ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ Targets Trump

Bruce Springsteen has unveiled a new song dedicated to the residents of…