NTSB: Uber’s AV in fatal crash ‘had software issues’

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that an Uber autonomous vehicle which killed Elaine Herzberg last year had software flaws. NTSB released a report which says the Volvo XC60’s autonomous system software classified the pedestrian as an unknown object and determined that an emergency braking manoeuvre was needed to mitigate the collision. Uber confirmed that emergency braking manoeuvres must be carried out manually and the system is not designed to alert the driver. Data
November 6, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

The US 5628 National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that an 8336 Uber autonomous vehicle which %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external killed false https://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/uber-ends-self-driving-programme-in-arizona/ false false%> Elaine Herzberg last year had software flaws.

NTSB released a %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external report false https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms/search/hitlist.cfm?docketID=62978&amp;CurrentPage=2&amp;EndRow=30&amp;StartRow=16&amp;order=1&amp;sort=0&amp;TXTSEARCHT= false false%> which says the 609 Volvo XC60’s autonomous system software classified the pedestrian as an unknown object and determined that an emergency braking manoeuvre was needed to mitigate the collision.

Uber confirmed that emergency braking manoeuvres must be carried out manually and the system is not designed to alert the driver.

Data retrieved from the autonomous system revealed that the vehicle operator engaged the steering wheel less than a second before impact while the vehicle was travelling at 39mph.

The NTSB reviewed Uber’s autonomous system cameras which revealed that Herzberg did not look in the direction of the vehicle just before impact.

An inward-facing video showed the vehicle operator glancing down toward the centre of the vehicle several times before the crash. A post-crash interview with NTSB investigators revealed that she was monitoring the autonomous system’s interface.

The NTSB is working with Uber, Volvo Cars and the 6576 Arizona Department of Transportation to compile a complete account of the crash.

Uber is not the only company whose AV trials have led to a fatality. Last year, a Tesla vehicle operating in %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external autopilot false https://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/tesla-car-crash-in-california-kills-driver-while-running-on-autopilot/ false false%> in California caught fire after crashing into a roadside barrier that killed the driver. 

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Nauto launches solution to eliminate distracted driving
    June 18, 2018
    Transportation company Nauto has launched its Prevent solution to help eliminate distracted driving by alerting motorists when their eyes have strayed off the road for too long. The company hopes to reduce accidents and collisions - before the large-scale arrival of autonomous vehicles. A report by TechCrunch says the device will send a voice notification if motorists are distracted for more than five seconds and are driving at 60mph. An alarm will follow if the user's attention has not returned to drivi
    Read More
  • call PSAP workshop
    August 21, 2014
    Ertico-ITS Europe has announced the date of its eCall Way Forward, PSAP Workshop. This workshop will address the technical and operational issues surrounding the upgrade of Member State Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to effectively deal with all forms of eCall. The event is for Ertico Partners only (and special guests) and will be held at the ERTICO premises in Brussels on 3 September 2014 from 1000 to 1630. To register, please click on the following link
    Read More
  • Book your place at MaaS Market Conference
    February 3, 2017
    MaaS Market, which concentrates on Mobility as a Service, takes place at the Inmarsat Conference Centre, London, UK on 22 and 23 March 2017, looking at new ways of getting people to their destination and new ways for them to pay for transport services. There are only a limited number of delegate places still available for this two-day, international, senior-level conference, so visit www.MaaS-Market.com to view the programme and reserve your place.
    Read More
  • Flir certified system engineer: automatic incident detection and traffic data collection
    January 26, 2017
    Flir is offering two-day training course on incident detection and data collection from 22-23 March at the Novotel in Bruges, Belgium. The interactive and hands-on training aims to provide participants with the ability be able to select the right camera for a project (analogue, IP, thermal), configure the detection boards on a fundamental level and manage received events and data from the detectors. More details and registration information are available on the Flir website. (link http://www.flir.eu/
    Read More

Highlighted Content