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

  • Special ACEM-Rail sessions at ETC 2013
    August 16, 2013
    The European Transport Conference moves to its new home of Goethe University in Frankfurt for 2013’s event on 30 September - 2 October. Special sessions on the Automated and Cost Effective Maintenance for Railway (ACEM-Rail) project will take place on 30 September, looking at ACEM-Rail instrumentation and ACEM-Rail infrastructure management ACEM-Rail is an FP7 project which runs through 2010-2013. The final goal is to reduce the costs and the interaction of maintenance operations with railway services as w
    Read More
  • Intelligent motorcycle warns rider of hazards
    April 23, 2013
    An instrumented motorcycle is on display at ITS America as part of a joint project with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the US Motorcycle Foundation. The Honda Goldwing motorcycle has been fitted with smart display which warns the rider of vehicles ahead braking sharply, vehicles in the blind spot, approaching intersections and other hazards.
    Read More
  • 2013 Polis Conference – call for speakers
    May 3, 2013
    The call for speakers for the 2013 Polis Conference, to be held in Brussels on 4 and 5 December, covers a wide range of topics open under the core Polis themes of environment and health, traffic efficiency and mobility, road safety and the social and economic challenges. All abstracts should highlight the innovative dimension as well as the results achieved and lessons learned. Abstracts should be submitted online at www.polisnetwork.eu/2013conference by 7 June 2013. Authors will be notified in June of the
    Read More
  • Second eCall interoperability event
    June 18, 2013
    The second eCall interoperability event will be held in Essen, Germany from 9to 13 September 2013, organised in cooperation with CETECOM and the HeERO project. eCall participants are invited to join the event to test their in-vehicle systems (IV) and/or Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) implementations. Interoperability and eCall service harmonisation are critical challenges to be taken into account for successful deployment and operation of the eCall service. The event will enable participants to check
    Read More

Highlighted Content